Person: Gergs, René
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1979
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Biologe
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Gergs
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René
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Veröffentlichung Effects of copper ions on non-target species: a case study using the Grazer Theodoxus fluviatilis (Gastropoda: Neritidae)(2020) Rothmeier, Louisa Marie; Feibicke, Michael; Martens, Andreas; Gergs, René; Watermann, Burkard; Kullwatz, Jan Christopher; Sahm, RenéThe heavy metal copper has been widely used in industrial processes as well as a pesticide product in agriculture or as biocide. Anthropogenic activities by which copper can enter the environment are rather diverse including mining, metal finishing factories, discharging in industry, or sewage treatment plants. In agriculture, copper compounds are used mainly as fungicides or herbicides (e.g. reviewed by Flemming and Trevors 1989). Furthermore, it was formerly used in reservoirs, streams and ponds for controlling algae blooms and is now commonly used as a biocide in antifouling paintings for ships to protect hulls from corrosion and for fuel efficiency (Piola et al. 2009; Watermann et al. 2017). When copper is released into freshwater systems, for example via agricultural runoff, it exists in surface waters in the form of free ions (Cu2+), complexed with ligands or bound to particles, occurring at median water concentrations often ranging between 4 to 10 Ìg Cu2+/L (ATSDR 2004). As a persistent element, copper is able to accumulate in biofilms (Morin et al. 2008) and sediments of rivers, lakes and estuaries, from where it can also be remobilised (Watermann et al. 2017). Absorption of copper ions into biofilms increases with increasing ion concentration (Bhaskar and Bhosle 2006), leading to highly contaminated biofilms in polluted environments. © 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AGVeröffentlichung The Danubian cryptic invader Theodoxus fluviatilis (Gastropoda: Neritidae) in the River Rhine: a potential indicator for metal pollution?(2021) Rothmeier, Louisa Marie; Bartz, Jennifer; Martens, Andreas; Gergs, René; Watermann, Burkard; Sahm, RenéMetal pollution poses a major threat to aquatic systems especially in anthropogenic influenced areas, in as much as metals are persistent in the environment. The freshwater snail Theodoxus fluviatilis has often been used as an indicator species for the ecological status in river monitoring. In the River Rhine, the native Northern-European form of T. fluviatilis is nowadays extinct, whilst the Danubian form is spreading along the river. The aim of our study was to investigate if the cryptic invader is affected by metal exposure present in the River Rhine and to discuss its potential as an indicator for metal pollution. Several environmental abiotic (14 water environmental variables plus five common metal concentrations in water and biofilm) and biotic parameters (biofilm mass) were measured across 23 sites along the River Rhine. Five population and six histopathological parameters were evaluated on snails collected at all 23 sites. Aqueous chromium concentration was positively correlated to the damage of male reproductive organs of T. fluviatilis, and higher ammonium concentration was correlated to a decrease in snail size and an increase in the proportion of juveniles. None of the analysed snail parameters was negatively correlated to concentrations of other metals measured, like copper and zinc. Therefore, based on the parameters evaluated, our results indicate that the Danubian form of T. fluviatilis is only restrictedly suitable as an indicator for metal pollution in the River Rhine system. Further field and laboratory investigations including other stressors are necessary to evaluate the indicator potential of the cryptic invader holistically. © The Author(s) 2021