Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)
L o a d i n g
The Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology is a Swiss water research institute and an internationally networked institution.
Available DatasetsShowing 414 of 414 results
- The spread of antibiotic resistance is an emerging health crisis. Here, we demonstrate that phage predation can increase the transfer and proliferation of plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance during surface-associated growth by reshaping microbial spatial organization. Using two strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli where one is a plasmid donor and the other a potential recipient, we demonstrate that phage predation slows the spatial demixing of the strains. This increases the number of cell-cell contacts and the extent of plasmid transfer between them. The underlying mechanism is that phage predation shifts the region of maximal cell growth from the biomass periphery to the interior where cell movement is highly constrained. This creates straighter interfaces between the strains that are less likely to coalesce with neighboring interfaces, thus slowing spatial demixing and enhancing plasmid transfer. Our results demonstrate that phage predation can promote the spread of antibiotic resistance with implications for phage therapy.8last week
- Partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A) of source-separated urine is less energy-intensive and potentially cheaper and more environmentally friendly than conventional nitrogen removal from mixed sewage. However, PN/A of undiluted source-separated urine has not yet been established. In this study, the feasibility of PN/A for source-separated urine (total nitrogen ≈ 2 to 3 g N L 1). To evaluate the influence of different factors, one- and two-stage configurations were operated using different influents, i.e. source-separated urine, synthetic urine, and urine with additional divalent cations. While partial nitritation was successfully achieved in both configurations with digester supernatant and urine, anammox activity was lost shortly after switching from digester supernatant to the urine influents. Toxic organic compounds or pharmaceuticals and the high monovalent to divalent cation ratio were suspected as causes of anammox failure, but were ruled out due to the different reactor configurations and influent compositions tested. Other suspected factors such as COD/N ratio, phosphate and sulfate inhibition, nitrogen compound inhibition, metal inhibition, pH and dissolved oxygen were also systematically excluded. Instead, the high salt concentration in urine compared to the digester supernatant most likely caused the reactor to fail due to the disintegration of large flocs, and the resulting challenge of biomass retention. The shortcomings of the floccular sludge system were overcome by using biofilm carriers, resulting in successful PN/A. This hybrid system ran for 140 days with nitrogen removal rates of up to 1000 mg N L-1 d-1 with an average of 410 ± 220 mg-N L-1 d-1, and a nitrogen removal efficiency of 93 ± 3% at 30°C.2last week
- The package includes data for the manuscript entitled: Impacts of dynamic aerosol and pathogen concentrations on risks of *Legionella pneumophila* for Public Showers in Switzerland Based on a Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Framework, by Tang L, Sylvestre É, Hamilton KA, Hammes F, and Julian TR.4last week
- Plasmid transfer among bacteria is an important driver of the spread of antibiotic resistance. Surface-associated bacterial biomass is a hotspot for plasmid transfer due to the dense spatial packing of cells, but this biomass is often sparse (composed of discrete bacterial colonies). Compared to plasmid dynamics within a single colony, the determinants of plasmid transfer between discrete colonies are less understood. Yet, colonies routinely physically collide with each other as they grow and expand across surfaces. Here, we experimentally demonstrate that collisions between colonies of Stutzerimonas stutzeri and Escherichia coli enable the spread of an antibiotic resistance-encoding plasmid, with the extent of transfer determined by the spatial distance between bacterial inocula. To better understand how spatial constraints influence the mechanisms underlying inter-colony plasmid spread, we applied an individual-based model simulating plasmid dynamics between colliding colonies. Our simulations quantitatively predict how the probabilities of plasmid transfer and loss affect plasmid spread as colonies grow and collide. These effects are modulated by the distances between colonies and the spatial positionings of plasmid-carrying cells along the collision boundary. Our study reveals that inter-colony plasmid transfer is determined by the interplay between plasmid transfer, plasmid loss, and spatial constraints, expanding our understanding of plasmid dynamics in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes.4last week
- Genetic diversity is a fundamental aspect of biodiversity, yet it is rarely assessed and monitored in conservation practice. Unionid freshwater mussels exemplify the dramatic loss of biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems, yet genomic data for these ecologically important species remain scarce. Here, we conducted a high-resolution population genomics study of all Anodonta species in Switzerland, with a focus on two species with contrasting reproductive strategies. After generating draft genomes of the hermaphroditic Anodonta cygnea and the gonochoric Anodonta anatina, we performed whole-genome resequencing of 421 individuals from four Anodonta species collected in 31 localities. While A. anatina populations followed a metapopulation structure shaped by catchment areas, genetic diversity correlated positively with waterbody size, suggesting greater vulnerability in small ponds compared with large lakes. Inbreeding levels were low, however effective population sizes were consistently below 100, indicating serious extinction risks. Furthermore, we detected hybridization between A. cygnea and A. exulcerata, indicating genomic permeability between these species. In addition, genomic data suggested facultative selfing in A. cygnea, leading to a marked reduction in genetic diversity, increased population structure and inbreeding, and a decline in effective population size compared to the outcrossing A. anatina. Our study underscores that reproductive strategy fundamentally shapes genetic indicators of biodiversity and influences extinction risk; conservation targets should therefore be adapted to the biology of the species of interest. To conclude, we advocate for integrating reproductive mode and genomic data into conservation planning to more accurately assess vulnerability and guide effective action. This data package contains the three filtered vcf files, the COI alignment of all mussels, the genome assemblies used as references for mapping, as well as the metadata associated with the study. The raw reads for this study have been deposited in the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) at EMBL-EBI under accession number PRJEB86155 (https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ena/browser/view/PRJEB86155)9last week
- All data needed to evaluate the conclusions of the paper "A Global Assessment of Groundwater Recharge Response to Infiltration Variability at Monthly to Decadal Timescales" are provided. The data compiled and used in this study is available as well as the script to reproduce figures and carry out the calculations.2last week
- Water scarcity increasingly challenges the supply of sufficient quantities of safe water for human consumption. On-site water reuse systems can contribute to mitigating the effects of water scarcity by closing water cycles locally. However, broader adoption of on-site water reuse is constrained by the high cost of water quality monitoring. This work demonstrates the successful design and validation of low-cost chlorine amperometric sensors for long-term monitoring using Prussian blue-coated screen-printed carbon electrodes. The study is relevant for practice, as testing was conducted in a water reuse system treating real greywater and municipal wastewater. The sensors achieved a relatively stable sensitivity of 8.55 ± 1.19 μA/(ppm⋅cm2) for hypochlorous acid after a 3-day stabilization period and maintained a sensitivity of 3.72 μA/(ppm⋅cm2) after 1 month. The sensors exhibited a linear dynamic range from 0.3 to 5 ppm for hypochlorous acid (R2 > 0.95). This study highlights the potential of Prussian blue-coated sensors as a practical solution for continuous chlorine monitoring in on-site water reuse applications. The findings encourage further research to improve durability and scalability to optimise the sensors for applications where low-cost sensing solutions are needed without personnel on-site for regular sensor maintenance and calibration.42 weeks ago
- The erosion of habitat heterogeneity can reduce species diversity directly but can also lead to the loss of distinctiveness of sympatric species through speciation reversal. We know little about changes in genomic differentiation during the early stages of these processes, which can be mediated by anthropogenic perturbation. Here, we analyse three sympatric whitefish species (Coregonus spp) sampled across two neighbouring and connected Swiss pre‐alpine lakes, which have been differentially affected by anthropogenic eutrophication. Our data set comprises 16,173 loci genotyped across 138 whitefish using restriction‐site associated DNA sequencing (RADseq). Our analysis suggests that in each of the two lakes the population of a different, but ecologically similar, whitefish species declined following a recent period of eutrophication. Genomic signatures consistent with hybridisation are more pronounced in the more severely impacted lake. Comparisons between sympatric pairs of whitefish species with contrasting ecology, where one is shallow benthic and the other one more profundal pelagic, reveal genomic differentiation that is largely correlated along the genome, while differentiation is uncorrelated between pairs of allopatric provenance with similar ecology. We identify four genomic loci that provide evidence of parallel divergent adaptation between the shallow benthic species and the two different more profundal species. Functional annotations available for two of those loci are consistent with divergent ecological adaptation. Our genomic analysis indicates the action of divergent natural selection between sympatric whitefish species in pre‐alpine lakes and reveals the vulnerability of these species to anthropogenic alterations of the environment and associated adaptive landscape.52 weeks ago
- Genetic linkage maps are essential for comparative genomics, high quality genome sequence assembly and fine scale quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping. In the present study we identified and genotyped markers via restriction-site associated DNA (RAD) sequencing and constructed a genetic linkage map based on 1,597 SNP markers of an interspecific F2 cross of two closely related Lake Victoria cichlids (Pundamilia pundamilia and P. sp. 'red head'). The SNP markers were distributed on 22 linkage groups and the total map size was 1,594 cM with an average marker distance of 1.01 cM. This high-resolution genetic linkage map was used to anchor the scaffolds of the Pundamilia genome and estimate recombination rates along the genome. Via QTL mapping we identified a major QTL for sex in a ∼1.9 Mb region on Pun-LG10, which is homologous to Oreochromis niloticus LG 23 (Ore-LG23) and includes a well-known vertebrate sex-determination gene (amh).92 weeks ago
- This study quantified methane (CH₄) emissions from non-sewered sanitation (NSS) in septic and holding tank containments for onsite storage of wastewater. It further examined how the measured emissions and corresponding parameters relate to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) approach, which uses Tier 1 default parameters and simplified assumptions that do not capture the variability of NSS containment conditions. Paired with questionnaires to residents, samples were collected from household containments in rural Southern Coastal British Columbia (BC), Canada (n=16) and urban Kampala, Uganda (n=17). Gas samples and 22 physicochemical parameters were quantified in situ or in a laboratory. Median net cumulative CH₄ concentrations were slightly higher in BC (20,150 ppm) than in Kampala (14,950 ppm), despite less favorable conditions for biological activity. Scum depth exhibited the strongest correlation with CH4 concentrations (BC rs=0.76; Kampala rs=0.88). Compared to Tier 1 IPCC estimates for Canada (18.0 g CH₄ capita⁻¹ day⁻¹) and Uganda (11.1 g CH₄ capita⁻¹ day⁻¹), median emissions based on CH4 measurements were 30.8 and 12.6 g CH₄ capita⁻¹ day⁻¹ for BC and Kampala, respectively, when normalized by number of household residents, and 82.3 and 85.8 g CH₄ m⁻² day⁻¹ when normalized by surface area of the containment. Methane correction factors (MCF) calculated in this study were different than those recommended by the IPCC. These results reveal important limitations in the IPCC methodology for scaling point-source measurements using current Tier 1 defaults, including the difficulty to reliably estimate organic loading values and population equivalents, and the inadequacy of IPCC MCF values to represent highly variable and context-specific conditions in containments.82 weeks ago
- Nearly half (46%) the world’s population is now served by non-sewered sanitation. In urban areas of low- and middle-income countries, this translates to onsite storage of wastewater in tanks and pits until it can be collected and transported by road to treatment, which is commonly referred to as fecal sludge management. The microbial communities that develop during storage of this wastewater remain understudied, leaving practitioners and scientists to speculate on best management practices such as downstream treatment and climate mitigation measures. In this study, we collected samples from 135 randomly selected containments across the city of Lusaka, Zambia, and evaluated statistical relations of 16S rRNA gene sequence data to types and volume of wastewater going into containments, disturbances (i.e., emptying events), characteristics of accumulated wastewater during storage, and metrics of downstream treatment processes. At the phyla level, 80% of the identified microorganisms belonged to Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota. Focusing in at the genera level, microbial diversity and composition were statistically related to volumes of water usage, properties of wastewater in containments (TOC, NH4, TKN, pH), and metrics of stabilization and dewatering performance. In Lusaka, a core community was identified with 104 of the 1,247 identified genera being present in >90% of the containments. In contrast, 936 genera were present in <60% of the containments, indicating that niche or transient organisms may also be important in unravelling metabolic processes such as sulfur reduction, methanogenesis, and ammonia tolerance. Community similarity was independent of time since last emptied, indicating stability of microbial communities over time. Identified metabolic differences between pit latrines (i.e., less water usage) and septic tanks (i.e., more water usage) indicate that methanogens more actively convert organic matter to methane in the more dilute wastewater, which could be globally relevant for greenhouse gas mitigation from non-sewered sanitation.63 weeks ago
- Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) discharge organic micropollutants (MPs) into open water bodies, posing potential environmental threats. Knowledge of the numbers, sources, and dynamics of MPs during CSOs is scarce but crucial for assessing their impact and developing mitigation strategies. To shed light on the dynamics of dissolved organic MPs in CSOs, we conducted high-temporal-resolution sampling (10 min composite samples) followed by liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis, both target (60 substances) and nontarget, at two CSO sites in a small (17 hectares reduced (hared)) and a large (368 hared) catchment for over 10 events each. We observe similar patterns among indoor substances in the large catchment and among tire-associated compounds in both catchments, indicating source-specific behavior. Due to high and diverse concentration variability, no temporal correlations were found among indoor substances in the small catchment or among pesticides in either catchment. A random forest classifier was applied to assign nontarget time series to indoor and road sources in the large catchment. The results indicate that CSOs discharge several thousand substances from indoor sources, followed by a few hundred from outdoor sources with continuous leaching. These high numbers substantially surpass the scope of traditional target lists and underscore the importance of broad-spectrum screening methods when assessing MP contamination.23 weeks ago
- Historical industrial activities at the Horn Richterwil, on the shore of Lake Zurich (Switzerland), caused widespread metal pollution on land and in the adjacent lake sediments. This study provides an estimation of the age and source of the contamination by using XRF core scanning, ICP-OES, and Hg-AFS for quantitative measurements of trace metals and MC-ICP-MS for the stable isotope analysis of mercury. Radiometric dating (137Cs, 210Pb, and Pu dating) of two proximal cores and varve chronology in a distal core suggest two different contaminations, one stemming from around 1960 (Zn, Cd) and an earlier one from 1880 (Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sn). The XRF data suggest two different contamination pathways: One by landfill of contaminated soil and another one by industrial wastewater effluents. Maximum concentrations found within all samples are in the range of per mil (dry weight) for Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sn, and Zn and lie within the top 10 cm of the sediment cores. The analysis of the mercury isotopic composition (δ202 Hg and Δ199 Hg) shows a significantly different signature for one of the cores, indicating a second mercury source. We could not conclude the exact source or process leading to the isotopic fractionation of mercury, but the isotopic data confirm two different sources.33 weeks ago
- Contained in this package are all raw data used for generating plots and figures for the mumps and rubella duplex in the report titled: Wastewater-based surveillance for measles, mumps, and rubella in Switzerland published for the FOPH. This package contains dPCR experiments and their corresponding excel files. This package also contains code associated with the data. If only excel data and code is of interest, please download the folder titled ***"ExcelDataForDuplexMumpsRubellaFOPHReport.zip"*** . Please start by downloading and reading the README file. Keywords: Mumps, Rubella, Wastewater Surveillance, Digital PCR43 weeks ago
- Host bacterial communities (microbiomes) are influenced by a wide range of factors including host genotype and parasite exposure. However, few studies disentangle temporal and host-genotype specific variation in microbiome response to infection across several host tissues. We experimentally exposed the freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna to its fungal parasite Metschnikowia bicuspidata and characterized changes in host bacterial communities associated with the parasite’s development within the host. We used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to assess bacterial communities of the host (a) 24 hours (“initial parasite exposure”) and (b) 10 days (“successful infection”) after exposure to a standard dose of M. bicuspidata spores, in host guts, body tissue (excluding guts) and whole individuals. We also investigated whether bacterial community responses to parasite exposure varied by host genotype. Parasite exposure did not immediately alter host gut bacterial communities, but drove host-genotype specific changes in the bacterial community composition of whole individuals. We validated that these changes were not driven by shifts in bacterial communities of the culturing medium, due to the addition of the parasite spore solution. Successful infection (i.e. the proliferation of M. bicuspidata spores in the host body) reduced alpha diversity and shifted abundance of dominant bacterial orders in the gut. Moreover, it induced a host genotype-specific changes in body bacterial community composition. Overall, bacterial community responses to parasite exposure and subsequent infection are complex: they occur in a host genotype-dependent manner, differentially at distinct timepoints after parasite exposure and in specific host tissue.23 weeks ago
- This package contains data used for the publication "Metagenomic and -transcriptomic analyses of microbial nitrogen transformation potential, and gene expression in Swiss lake sediments". Abstract: The global nitrogen (N) cycle has been strongly altered by anthropogenic activities, including increased input of bioavailable N into aquatic ecosystems. Freshwater sediments are hotspots with regards to the turnover and elimination of fixed N, yet the environmental controls on the microbial pathways involved in benthic N removal are not fully understood. Here, we analyze the abundance and expression of microbial genes involved in N transformations using metagenomics and -transcriptomics across sediments of 12 Swiss lakes that differ in sedimentation rates and trophic regimes. Our results indicate that microbial N loss in these sediments is primarily driven by nitrification coupled to denitrification. N-transformation gene compositions indicated three groups of lakes: agriculture-influenced lakes characterized by rapid depletion of oxidants in the sediment porewater, pristine-alpine lakes with relatively deep sedimentary penetration of oxygen and nitrate, and large, deep lakes with intermediate porewater hydrochemical properties. Sedimentary organic matter (OM) characteristics showed the strongest correlations with the community structure of microbial N-cycling communities. Most transformation pathways were expressed, but expression deviated from gene abundance and did not correlate with benthic geochemistry. Cryptic N-cycling may maintain transcriptional activity even when substrate levels are below detection. Sediments of large, deep lakes generally showed lower in-situ N gene expression than agriculture-influenced lakes, and half of the pristine-alpine lakes. This implies that prolonged OM mineralization in the water column can lead to the suppression of benthic N gene expression.73 weeks ago
- This package contains the porewater chemistry, microbial abundance, and nitrogen gene abundance data from the spatial and temporal survey of Lake Baldegg and Lake Sarnen in the year 2018. The data belongs to the publication 'Trophic state and local conditions affect the microbial potential for denitrification and internal nitrogen cycling in lake sediments'.73 weeks ago
- Aubert, A.H., Scheidegger, A., Schmid, S., Gamified online surveys: Assessing experience with self-determination theory ## Abstract We developed four online interfaces supporting citizen participation in decision-making. We included (1) learning loops (LLs), good practice in decision analysis, and (2) gamification, to enliven an otherwise long and tedious survey. We investigated the effects of these features on drop-out rate, perceived experience, and basic psychological needs (BPNs): autonomy, competence, and relatedness, all from self-determination theory. We also investigated how BPNs and individual causality orientation influence experience of the four interfaces. Answers from 785 respondents, representative of the Swiss German-speaking population in age and gender, provided insightful results. LLs and gamification increased drop-out rate. Experience was better explained by the BPN satisfaction than by the interface, and this was moderated by respondents’ causality orientations. LLs increased the challenge, and gamification enhanced the social experience and playfulness. LLs frustrated all three needs, and gamification satisfied relatedness. Autonomy and relatedness both positively influenced the social experience, but competence was negatively correlated with challenge. All observed effects were small. Hence, using gamification for decision-making is questionable, and understanding individual variability is a prerequisite; this study has helped disentangle the diversity of responses to survey design options. ## Data The directory `data` contains: - `rq2_df_compl.csv`: Anonymized data of participants that completed the whole survey. This is the basis data analyzed in the script. - `rq2_df_compl_start_data.csv`: Anonymized data of participants that completed at least the GCOS questionnaire. This data file is to carry out complementary analysis (shown in Supplementary Information). These data files are the result of the preprocessing pipeline contained and described in the data package https://doi.org/10.25678/0008WS (still to come, at the time of publishing the current data package). ## Analysis All models and figures in the paper were produced with [R](https://www.r-project.org/). The code is contained in `Analysis_and plots.R`. The plots for the investigation of the drop-out rates (see SI 7.7) are in `Drop_out_analysis.R` ## Funding This research was supported by a Swiss National Science Foundation Ambizione grant (project 173973, Environmental Decision Analysis with Games -- Edanaga) to Aubert, A.H.23 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in January 2020 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW93 weeks ago
- Zusammen mit der Eawag und der OST erstellte Entsorgung & Recycling Zürich (ERZ) ein Wasserflussdiagramm (WFD) für das Stadtgebiet Zürich. Die weiterentwickelte Methode umfasst neu auch den Regen und die ausgelösten Durchflüsse, wie beispielsweise Mischwasserentlastungen, Versickerung und Evapotranspiration. Die leicht nachvollziehbare Darstellung des weiterentwickelten WFD eignet sich insbesondere, um bei der Planung von Schwammstadt- und Klimaanpassungsprojekte beigezogen zu werden. Sie steht auch für andere Anwendungen zur Verfügung.93 weeks ago
- Gravity currents contribute to the transport of heat and mass in atmospheric and aquatic environments. In aquatic systems subject to daily surface cooling, gravity currents propagate through turbulent convective surroundings. Yet, the effects of thermal convection on aquatic gravity currents remain to be quantified. This paper demonstrates how the interaction between penetrative convection and downslope gravity currents impacts the fluid dynamics and transport across littoral aquatic systems. We performed field experiments in a wind-sheltered lake experiencing differential cooling to resolve the dynamics of thermally driven gravity currents in convective environments. Our in situ observations reveal that convective plumes penetrate gravity currents, generating large vertical fluctuations that foster the erosion of the stratified layer. This enhanced vertical mixing destroys the stratified downslope flow and limits the basin-scale transport. Our results demonstrate that the interaction between penetrative convection and downslope gravity currents controls the littoral-pelagic connectivity in aquatic ecosystems.53 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in October 2020 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW123 weeks ago
- ## There is [a newer version](https://doi.org/10.25678/0008KG) of this dataset. **There is [an older version](https://doi.org/10.25678/0006MV) of this dataset.** The “National Long-term Surveillance of Swiss Rivers” (NADUF) program was initiated in 1972 as a cooperative project between three institutes: + [Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)](https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/en/home.html) + [Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG)](https://www.eawag.ch) + [Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)](https://www.wsl.ch/en.html) (since 2003) The following institutes participated later: + [Amt für Umwelt und Energie des Kantons Basel-Stadt (AUE)](https://www.aue.bs.ch) + [Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS)](https://www.metas.ch/metas/en/home.html) With the NADUF program, the chemical-physical state of Swiss rivers as well as intermediate-term and long-term changes in concentration are observed. Furthermore, it provides data for scientific studies on biological, chemical and physical processes in river water. The NADUF network serves as a basic data and sampling facility to evaluate the effectiveness of water protection measures and for various scientific projects. ### Data from 2020 to 2021 The physical data for the years 2020 and 2021 are provisional. Accordingly, the chemical data are not yet definitive.123 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in April 2019 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targetting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targetting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW93 weeks ago
- Granule detachment in aerobic granular sludge (AGS) systems is considered an important aspect for both granulation and nitrification performance, yet it has received little attention. This study aimed to identify the dominant detachment mechanisms (erosion, abrasion, sloughing / breakage) and quantify their respective kinetics under operational shear conditions. Ultimately, the impact of detachment on nitrifier migration and growth conditions in flocs was also investigated. Granules from two full-scale AGS wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) were exposed to operational shear (157 s-1) for up to one week in a Couette-Taylor reactor. The distribution of size-classes in terms of total suspended solids (TSS) and nitrifiers was measured, and detachment kinetics and solids retention time (SRT) in flocs, accounting for detachment, were estimated. Under the tested shear rate, shear-induced erosion from the granule surface was the main detachment mechanism with a median detachment rate of 0.017 gTSSdetach gTSSgranule-1 d-1 (25th–75th percentile: 0.014–0.027 gTSSdetach gTSSgranule-1 d-1). In contrast, granule breakage was not observed within 15 detachment tests and therefore does not appear to be a continuous process, indicating that re-growth on breakage debris is not a main driver of granulation as previously proposed in literature. Nitrifiers were found to migrate almost exclusively to biomass <0.2 mm, i.e., flocs. While the migration rates of ammonia- and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (AOB and NOB) were similar in autumn, distinct values were quantified in winter, with two to six-fold lower NOB migration rates, likely reflecting a temperature-dependent stratification of nitrifiers within granules. Consequently, the influence of nitrifier migration on the growth conditions in flocs varies across nitrifying groups and seasons. The floc SRT of AOB was estimated to be above their minimum SRT throughout the year, indicating migration is not critical for AOB to persist in flocs. In contrast, the minimum SRT of NOB increases significantly at low temperature, such that migration becomes crucial to prevent NOB washout. Migration of NOB from granules to flocs may sufficiently increase the SRT of NOB in flocs, if they are predominantly enriched in granules rather than in flocs. Overall, flocs provide favourable growth conditions for AOB throughout the year, whereas this is only intermittently the case for NOB, which ultimately rely on migration from granules, particularly during cold winter months.23 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in September 2021 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW133 weeks ago
- This repository contains code and data for the analyses and figures of the manuscript "Light and nutrients modulate the temperature-sensitivity of growth in phytoplankton" by Vanessa Weber de Melo, Marc J-F Suter and Anita Narwani published in Limnology and Oceanography Letters. The dataset contains results of a growth experiment with six species of freshwater phytoplankton in four temperatures combined with 7 resource levels. Growth was monitored by measuring fluorescence of chlorophyll or phycocyanin through time. We then estimated maximum growth rates for each culture.283 weeks ago
- Protection of groundwater resources is essential to ensure quality and sustainable use. However, predicting vulnerability to anthropogenic pollution can be difficult where data are limited. This is particularly true in the Sahel region of Africa, which has a rapidly growing population and increasing water demands. Here we use groundwater measurements of tritium (3H) with machine learning to create an aquifer vulnerability map (of the western Sahel), which forms an important basis for sustainable groundwater management. Modelling shows that arid areas with greater precipitation seasonality, higher permeability and deeper wells or water table generally have older groundwater and less vulnerability to pollution. The most important spatially continuous predictor was elevation. Groundwater vulnerability is based on recent recharge, implying a sensitivity also to a changing climate, for example, altered precipitation or evapotranspiration. This study showcases the efficacy of using tritium to assess aquifer vulnerability and the value of tritium analyses in groundwater, particularly towards improving their spatial and temporal resolution.33 weeks ago
- Permanent rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) cell lines represent potential in vitro alternatives to experiments with fish. We here developed a method to assess the bioaccumulation potential of anionic organic compounds in fish, using the rainbow trout liver-derived RTL-W1 cell line. Based on the availability of high quality in vivo bioconcentration (BCF) and biomagnification (BMF) data and the substances’ charge state at physiological pH, four anionic compounds were selected: pentachlorophenol (PCP), diclofenac (DCF), tecloftalam (TT) and benzotriazol-tert-butyl-hydroxyl-phenyl propanoic acid (BHPP). The fish cell line acute toxicity assay (OECD TG249) was used to derive effective concentrations 50 % and non-toxic exposure concentrations to determine exposure concentrations for bioaccumulation experiments. Bioaccumulation experiments were performed over 48 h with a total of six time points, at which cell, medium and plastic fractions were sampled and measured using high resolution tandem mass spectrometry after online solid phase extraction. Observed cell internal concentrations were over-predicted by KOW-derived predictions while pH-dependent octanol–water partitioning (DOW) and membrane lipid-water partitioning (DMLW) gave better predictions of cell internal concentrations. Measured medium and cell internal concentrations at steady state were used to calculate RTL-W1-based BCF, which were compared to DOW- or DMLW-based model approaches and in vivo data. With the exception of PCP, the cell-derived BCF best compared to DOW-based model predictions, which were higher than predictions based on DMLW. All methods predicted the in vivo BCF for diclofenac well. For PCP, the cell-derived BCF was lowest although all BCF predictions underestimated the in vivo BCF by ≥ 1 order of magnitude. The RTL-W1 cells, and all other prediction methods, largely overestimated in vivo BMF, which were available for PCP, TT and BHPP. We conclude that the RTL-W1 cell line can supplement BCF predictions for anionic compounds. For BMF estimations, however, in vitro-in vivo extrapolations need adaptation or a multiple cell line approach. The data package contains the raw data (concentration measurements) of the in vitro experiments with fish cell lines associated to the publication.23 weeks ago
- Climate change interacts with local processes to threaten biodiversity by disrupting the complex network of ecological interactions. While changes in network interactions drastically affect ecosystems, how ecological networks respond to climate change, in particular warming and nutrient supply fluctuation, is largely unknown. Here, using an equation-free modeling approach on monthly plankton community data in ten Swiss lakes, we show that the number and strength of plankton community interactions fluctuate and respond nonlinearly to water temperature and phosphorus. While lakes show system-specific responses, warming generally reduces network interactions, particularly under high phosphate levels. This network reorganization shifts trophic control of food webs, leading to consumers being controlled by resources. Small grazers and cyanobacteria emerge as sensitive indicators of changes in plankton networks. By exposing the outcomes of a complex interplay between environmental drivers, our results provide tools for studying and advancing our understanding of how climate change impacts entire ecological communities.23 weeks ago
- Pro-environmental decisions, such as rejecting pesticide use in agriculture, may stem from both environmental and health concerns. Identifying which concerns are more decisive for pro-environmental decisions, and whether this varies between people, depending on their value orientations, could offer valuable insights into how to best promote pro-environmental decisions across different audiences. While biospheric values likely underlie environmental concerns, it is unclear which value orientation underlies health concerns. In a preregistered online experiment (N = 823), we explored whether egoistic or personal safety values—a subtype of personal security values developed for this study—underlie health concerns regarding pesticide use in agriculture. Participants reported on their opposition to the use of a fictitious fungicide in potato cultivation, based on information about its risks to human health (relevant for egoistic and personal safety values) and/or the environment (relevant for biospheric values). Stronger biospheric values were consistently associated with stronger opposition to the fungicide’s use, regardless of the risk information. Egoistic values interacted with risk information, but these interactions contradicted our assumption that egoistic values reflect health concerns. Personal safety values showed no interaction with risk information and were not independently associated to opposition to the fungicide’s use. Our findings suggest that neither egoistic nor personal safety values serve as the basis for health concerns driving pro-environmental decisions. This underscores the need to identify an additional value orientation that reflects health concerns and develop measures to assess it.133 weeks ago
- Identifying sublethal pesticide effects on aquatic organisms is a challenge for environmental risk assessment. Long-term population experiments can help assessing chronic toxicity. However, population experiments are subject to stochasticity (demographic, environmental, and genetic). Therefore, identifying sublethal chronic effects from “noisy” data can be difficult. Model-based analysis can support this process.We use stochastic, age-structured population models applied to data from long-term population experiments with Daphnia galeata in 1L aquaria with and without chronic pesticide treatments (diazinon and diuron) at sublethal concentrations. Posterior analysis following Bayesian inference of model parameters and states helped choosing an adequate description of life-history characteristics under the specific experimental conditions (a zero-inflated negative binomial distribution for reproduction and mortality without density dependence). For the insecticide treatments, the inferred marginal posterior parameter distributions indicated the need for a mortality rate that increases with time, indicating cumulative chronic toxic effects of diazinon on Daphnia populations. With this study, we demonstrate how stochastic models can be used to infer mechanisms from population data to help identifying sublethal pesticide effects.53 weeks ago
- Pollinosis is the most prevalent allergic disorder. Assessing the impact of real-world pollen exposure on symptoms remains challenging due to extensive patient-level efforts required. This study explores the potential of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to investigate the relationship between airborne pollen concentrations and antihistamine residues in wastewater as an indicator of pollinosis symptom treatment at the population-scale. In Zurich (Switzerland), 279 wastewater samples were collected during 2021–2023. Each sample represents a 24-h period with excreta from approximately 471,000 individuals. Eleven antihistamine markers were analyzed in the samples using liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry. The relationship between antihistamine loads in wastewater and airborne pollen concentrations (47 taxa and miscellaneous pollen) was investigated by determining seasonal components of antihistamine loads and exploring pollen-specific contributions using Non-Negative Least Squares (NNLS) optimization. Four antihistamines were detected in quantifiable amounts in wastewater. The first-generation antihistamine, diphenhydramine, demonstrated rather constant levels. In contrast, the three second-generation antihistamines - bilastine, cetirizine, and fexofenadine - showed pronounced day-to-day variation with strong correlations among each other. For fexofenadine, which was investigated in detail for its correlation with airborne pollen concentrations, approximately 50 % of the annual wastewater loads were associated with acute pollen exposure. Another 20 % related to baseline consumption during the pollen season, while the remaining 30 % seems unrelated to pollen. Birch, grasses, hazel, hornbeam, plane, and plantain explained most of the variance in wastewater loads (R2 = 0.82), with grass pollen alone accounting for a quarter of the annual loads. Increased fexofenadine loads during periods without elevated concentrations of common allergenic pollen suggests the presence of additional triggers for allergy symptoms, potentially yew pollen. Our study demonstrates that WBE can effectively reveal substantial day-to-day variation in antihistamine use related to pollen exposure. Thus, WBE presents an objective and questionnaire-independent method for investigating pollinosis symptom treatment at a population-scale.23 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in March 2021 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW123 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in June 2021 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW143 weeks ago
- Flat roofs can employ a range of technologies to improve sustainability, such as photovoltaic (PV) panels, green roofs, cool roofs, or a combination of these options. Yet, weighing the benefits, costs, and performance of different roofing technologies is complex, especially when different stakeholders are involved. Decision analysis techniques, such as multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), can be used to systematically evaluate a diverse range of rooftop options to assess trade-offs in a quantitative way and avoid decision biases. This study offers a holistic comparison of different roof types, considering stakeholder preferences and uncertainty using MCDA. Ten flat roof options are compared, including black, gravel, cool, extensive green and semi-intensive green roofs, each with or without a rooftop PV installation, for nine objectives and three hypothetical stakeholder profiles. Performance is evaluated using building energy simulation, hydrologic modeling, and literature research. Uncertainty analyses are used to evaluate the effects of model assumptions on the MCDA results. For assumed preferences of an urban planner and environmentalist, semi-intensive green roofs with integrated PV installation are the best performing option; however, for a hypothetical building owner more concerned with costs, a gravel roof with PV ranks best. Uncertainty plays a role in the results, in particular, the uncertainty of the predicted outcome of options for the building owner, which can change the top-ranking options considerably. The uncertainty analyses are useful to identify consensus options over all three stakeholder types. Despite considerable uncertainty, extensive and semi-intensive green roofs with PV are recommended as relatively robust best-performing options.143 weeks ago
- This dataset was collected during a 25-week monitoring campaign designed to evaluate the performance of a novel hyperspectral imaging system compared to state-of-the-art UV/Vis sensors. The dataset consists of 5801 hyperspectral images of raw wastewater taken at a 30-minute resolution, as well as measurements of temperature, ammonium, flow, turbidity, pH, and UV-vis absorbance spectra taken at a 2-minute resolution. In addition, we collected 533 grab samples and analyzed them in the laboratory for conventional pollutants, including ammonium, total suspended solids, total nitrogen, dissolved organic carbon, and phosphates. Notably, we gathered 86 of these samples after four rain events and subsequently analyzed them for twenty organic chemicals, which provided valuable insights into the impact of wet weather on pollutant levels.173 weeks ago
- Host-associated bacterial communities can play an important role in host fitness and resistance to diseases. Yet, few studies have investigated tripartite interaction between a host, parasite and host-associated bacterial communities in natural settings. Here, we use 16S amplicon sequencing to compare gut- and body- bacterial communities of wild water fleas belonging to the Daphnia longispina complex, between uninfected hosts and those infected with the common and virulent eukaryotic gut parasite Caullerya mesnili (Family: Ichthyosporea). We report community-level changes in host-associated bacteria with the presence of the parasite infection; namely decreased alpha diversity and increased beta diversity at the site of infection, i.e. host gut (but not host body). We also report decreased abundance of bacterial taxa proposed elsewhere to be beneficial for the host, and an appearance of taxa specifically associated with infected hosts. Our study highlights the host-microbiota-infection link in a natural system and raises questions about the role of host-associated microbiota in natural disease epidemics as well as the functional roles of bacteria specifically associated with infected hosts.43 weeks ago
- **This dataset is part of [the UWO project](https://doi.org/10.25678/000C5K).** The digital field laboratory UWO is a long-term experiment to monitor the space-time dynamics of the - not only urban - water cycle in the Fehraltorf region. It is a field laboratory, a testing ground for sensor technology and IoT telemetry, and an outdoor classroom all in one. This package contains script files to query the data from the sqlite data slices provided in the package UWO - Field observations (2019 to 2021). The files 'queries.py', 'queries.m', and 'queries.jl' provide sample queries to access observation data in Python, Octave/Matlab, and Julia respectively, while 'data_UWO_sqlite_content_overview.csv' contains information about the package association of the sources. This package is published as part of a bundle which consists of the packages UWO - [Accompanying data (2019 to 2021)]( https://doi.org/10.25678/000991), [UWO - Data access (2019 to 2021)](https://doi.org/10.25678/000980), [UWO - Data viewer (2019 to 2021)](https://doi.org/10.25678/00092Z) and [UWO - Field observations (2019 to 2021)]( https://doi.org/10.25678/00091Y).53 weeks ago
- In a pilot study, the Swiss Federal Institute for Environment (FOEN) intended to test measurement equipment, logistics, data processing and data quality in view of the potential deployment of a Swiss-wide temperature monitoring network of lakes. FOEN mandated the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) to design a pilot monitoring for 8 small lakes at various altitudes and these were monitored over around 3 years (2021 - 2024).33 weeks ago
- Emissions from urban drainage systems can have unwanted consequences for human and environmental health. Unfortunately, traditional water quality monitoring in sewers is expensive and not comprehensive enough to provide detailed data on pollution across an entire catchment. However, with the increasing digitization of society, alternative data sources such as mobile phone data offer new opportunities to assess wastewater production and dynamics. In this study, we investigate the relation between mobile phone data and wastewater flows in five catchments in Switzerland with different characteristics and sizes, using data from the largest Swiss telecom provider and simple multiple linear regression models. The initial results of this study are promising, although the degree of correlation observed between mobile phone data and wastewater production is rather low (max. R2=0.73) and varies greatly from catchment to catchment. As expected, we find non-linear effects in the data and more advanced modeling approaches, e.g. taking into account flow distances or dynamic wastewater travel times in the sewer network, may be needed to develop reliable predictions. In addition, we find that privacy protection issues currently limit the applicability in small catchments. Thus, we expect that the mobile data will benefit from domain-specific preprocessing for wastewater applications. The potential applications of this approach are far-reaching, including applications in urban drainage, wastewater treatment, drinking water, wastewater-based epidemiology and climate change adaptation. Last, but not least, wastewater flow or pollution data could even improve the data quality of the mobility data.53 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in December 2021 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW173 weeks ago
- ## There is [a newer version](https://doi.org/10.25678/0008A7) of this dataset. **There is [an older version](https://doi.org/10.25678/00069G) of this dataset.** The “National Long-term Surveillance of Swiss Rivers” (NADUF) program was initiated in 1972 as a cooperative project between three institutes: + [Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)](https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/en/home.html) + [Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG)](https://www.eawag.ch) + [Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)](https://www.wsl.ch/en.html) (since 2003) The following institutes participated later: + [Amt für Umwelt und Energie des Kantons Basel-Stadt (AUE)](https://www.aue.bs.ch) + [Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS)](https://www.metas.ch/metas/en/home.html) With the NADUF program, the chemical-physical state of Swiss rivers as well as intermediate-term and long-term changes in concentration are observed. Furthermore, it provides data for scientific studies on biological, chemical and physical processes in river water. The NADUF network serves as a basic data and sampling facility to evaluate the effectiveness of water protection measures and for various scientific projects. ### Data from 2019 to 2021 The physical data for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 are provisional. Accordingly, the chemical data are not yet definitive.123 weeks ago
- This dataset package includes Python scripts, outputs (figures, model results), and associated documentation used in the publication "Exploring online sensor parameters as proxies for polar organic chemicals – An innovative approach for combined sewer overflow monitoring." The raw data utilized for these analyses is sourced from https://doi.org/10.25678/000D3C and https://doi.org/10.25678/000DNY. This package provides all necessary resources to reproduce the results presented in the study.43 weeks ago
- The interplay between abiotic (resource supply, temperature) and biotic (grazing) factors determines growth and loss processes in phytoplankton through resource competition and trophic interactions, which are mediated by morphological traits like size. Here, we study the relative importance of grazers, water physics and chemistry on the daily net accumulation rates (AR) of individual phytoplankton from natural communities, grouped into six size classes from circa 10 to 500 μm. Using a Random Forest modelling approach and four years of daily data from a lake, we find that water temperature is generally a pivotal control of all phytoplankton AR. At the same time, nutrients and light are important for the smallest and the largest classes. Mesozooplankton abundance is a key predictor of the AR for small phytoplankton, with microzooplankton being important for the middle-size range. In our data, large and small phytoplankton have different (seasonal) blooming patterns: small forms are favoured by low temperature and grazing, and high phosphorus levels. Larger forms show positive ARs at high temperatures and low phosphorus (being relatively insensitive to zooplankton grazing). These results help us understand the opportunities and limitations of using size to explain and model phytoplankton responses to biotic and abiotic environmental change.43 weeks ago
- Blue-green infrastructure (BGI)—engineered, nature-based stormwater controls such as bioretention cells and green roofs—can reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs). However, hydrological performance can decline over time through sediment deposition and clogging. Despite this, catchment-scale studies commonly assume stationary BGI performance, potentially underestimating CSO volumes and associated risks. This study integrates spatial sensitivity analysis with dynamic deterioration modelling to examine where and when BGI performance loss most affects CSO volumes. A semi-Markov chain model simulated condition-state transitions for individual BGI assets, coupled with EPA SWMM to assess CSO mitigation over time in a realistic case study. Under the modelled parameters, the difference in system-level CSO volume between fully functioning and fully failing BGI reached 18% by the end of the study period. Critically, while most assets exert minimal influence, a subset of high-leverage BGI assets disproportionately governs CSO volumes—primarily determined by asset size and capture ratio. Furthermore, early performance losses are masked by annual rainfall variability, introducing significant delays before failures become detectable through CSO measurements alone. These findings indicate that effective monitoring requires asset-level rather than system-level observation. Targeting a high-leverage subset of BGI can substantially reduce monitoring effort while preserving CSO performance. This study demonstrates how such critical assets can be identified and contributes a methodology for explicitly incorporating BGI deterioration dynamics into catchment-scale models. These findings enable risk-informed monitoring and maintenance prioritisation, treating BGI as a dynamic rather than static component of urban drainage management.33 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in February 2022 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW93 weeks ago
- Green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) is growing in popularity to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and hydrologic simulation models are a tool to assess this reduction potential. Given the numerous and interacting water flows that contribute to CSOs, such as evapotranspiration (ET) and groundwater (GW), these models should ideally account for them. However, due to the complexity, simplified models are often used, and it is currently unknown how these assumptions affect estimates of CSOs, GSI effectiveness, and ultimately planning guidance. This study evaluates the effect on estimates of CSOs and GSI effectiveness when different flows and hydrologic processes are neglected. We modified an existing EPA SWMM model of a combined sewer system in Switzerland to include ET, GW, and upstream inflows. Historical rainfall data over 30 years are used to assess volume and duration of CSOs with and without three types of GSI (bioretention basins, permeable pavements and green roofs). Results demonstrate that neglect of certain flows in modelling can alter CSO volumes from -15% to 40% and duration from -40% to 5%. GSI effectiveness also varies considerably when different processes are represented in the model, resulting in differences in potential volume reduction of CSOs from 8 to 35%, depending on the GSI type and model structure. Representation of GW within models is particularly crucial when infiltrating GSI are present, as CSOs could increase in certain subcatchments due to higher GW levels from increased infiltration. When basing GSI planning decisions on modeled estimates of CSOs, all relevant hydrologic processes should be included to the extent possible and uncertainty and assumptions should always be considered.43 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in October 2018 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targetting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targetting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW93 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in November 2022 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW573 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in December 2020 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW123 weeks ago
- Cationic surfactants are used in many industrial processes and in consumer products with concurrent release into the aquatic environment, where they may accumulate in aquatic organisms to regulatoryly relevant thresholds. Here, we aimed to better understand the bioconcentration behavior of three selected cationic surfactants, namely N,N-dimethyldecylamine (T10), N-methyldodecylamine (S12), and N,N,N-trimethyltetradecylammonium cation (Q14), in the cells of fish liver (RTL-W1) and gill (RTgill-W1) cell lines. We conducted full mass balances for bioconcentration tests with the cell cultures, in which the medium, the cell surface, the cells themselves, and the plastic compartment were sampled and quantified for each surfactant by HPLC MS/MS. Accumulation in/to cells correlated with the surfactants' alkyl chain lengths and their membrane lipid–water partitioning coefficient, DMLW. Cell-derived bioconcentration factors (BCF) of T10 and S12 were within a factor of 3.5 to in vivo BCF obtained from the literature, while the cell-derived BCF values for Q14 were >100 times higher than the in vivo BCF. From our experiments, rainbow trout cell lines appear as a suitable conservative in vitro screening method for bioconcentration assessment of cationic surfactants and are promising for further testing. The data package contains the raw data (concentration measurements) of the in vitro experiments with fish cell lines associated to the publication.23 weeks ago
- The development of new wastewater treatment processes can assist in reducing the impact of wastewater treatment on the environment. The recently developed partial nitritation anammox (PNA) process, for example, consumes less energy for aeration and reduces nitrate in the effluent without requiring additional organic carbon. However, achieving stable nitritation (ammonium oxidation; NH4+ -> NO2-) at mainstream conditions (T = 10–25°C, C:N > 10, influent ammonium < 50 mgNH4-N/L and effluent < 1 mgNH4-N/L) remains challenging. This study explores the potential and mechanism of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) suppression in a bottom-fed sequencing batch reactor (SBR). Two bench-scale (11 L) reactors and a pilot-scale reactor (8 m3) were operated for over a year and were fed with organic substrate depleted municipal wastewater. Initially, nitratation (nitrite oxidation; NO2- -> NO3-) occurred occasionally until an anaerobic phase was integrated into the operating cycle. The introduction of the anaerobic phase effectively suppressed the regrowth of NOB and nitritation was stable over 300 days, down to 8 °C and at ammonium influent concentrations < 25 mgNH4-N/L. Batch experiments and process data revealed that parameters typically affecting NOB growth (e.g., dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, trace elements, lag-phase after anoxia, free nitrous acid (FNA), free ammonia (FA), pH, sulfide, or solids retention time (SRT)) could not fully explain the suppression of nitratation. Experiments in which fresh nitrifying microbial biomass was added to the nitritation system indicated that NOB inactivation explained NOB suppression better than NOB washout at high SRT. This study concludes that bottom-fed SBRs with anaerobic phases allow for stable nitritation over a broad range of operational parameters. Coupling this type of SBR to an anammox reactor can enable efficient mainstream anammox-based wastewater treatment.23 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in September 2019 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW133 weeks ago
- Global environmental challenges existentially threaten not only the environment but also human health. To initiate the individual and societal changes needed to address these challenges effectively, change strategies need to be guided by an in-depth understanding of the psychological factors that influence environmentally relevant perceptions and behaviors. In environmental psychology, personal values have been identified as key antecedents of pro-environmental perceptions and behaviors. However, the dominant value approach in the field has three shortcomings that need to be addressed. First, the dominant value typologies appear to consider a limited number and conceptual range of value orientations. Second, the value orientations vary significantly in their conceptual distinctness and the range of specific goals they include. Third, some value orientations may have limited construct validity due to a mismatch between their operationalization and definitions. Our study addresses the first two shortcomings by developing a refined typology of environmentally relevant values based on a systematic literature review. We included 773 academic records and applied qualitative thematic analysis to synthesize the data. We identified 131 distinct values, which form 38 motivational types, referred to as value orientations. These were grouped into 12 higher-order value orientations that reflect overarching motivations: nature welfare, animal welfare, human welfare, temperance, conservatism, societal stability, in-group welfare, personal welfare, superiority, sensualism, flourishment and enlightenment. The proposed typology of environmentally relevant values extends the dominant value typologies in environmental psychology. Our work lays the foundation for a refined value approach, whose value orientations are expected to have greater explanatory power and provide more precise insights into the value underpinnings of environmentally relevant perceptions and behaviors.133 weeks ago
- Nontarget high-resolution mass spectrometry screening (NTS HRMS/MS) can detect thousands of organic substances in environmental samples. However, new strategies are needed to focus time-intensive identification efforts on features with the highest potential to cause adverse effects instead of the most abundant ones. To address this challenge, we developed MLinvitroTox, a machine-learning framework that uses molecular fingerprints derived from fragmentation spectra (MS2) for a rapid classification of thousands of unidentified HRMS/MS features as toxic/nontoxic based on nearly 400 target-specific and over 100 cytotoxic endpoints from ToxCast/Tox21. Model development results demonstrated that using customized molecular fingerprints and models, over a quarter of toxic endpoints and the majority of associated mechanistic targets could be accurately predicted with sensitivities exceeding 0.95. Notably, SIRIUS molecular fingerprints and xboost (Extreme Gradient Boosting) models with SMOTE (Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique) for handling data imbalance was a universally successful and robust modeling configuration. Validation of MLinvitroTox on MassBank spectra showed that toxicity could be predicted from molecular fingerprints derived from MS2 with an average balanced accuracy of 0.75. By applying MLinvitroTox to environmental HRMS/MS data, we confirmed the experimental results obtained with targeted analysis and narrowed the analytical focus from tens of thousands of detected signals to 783 features linked to potential toxicity, including 109 spectral matches and 30 compounds with confirmed toxic activity.83 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in December 2022 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW1453 weeks ago
- **This dataset is part of [the UWO project](https://doi.org/10.25678/000C5K).** The digital field laboratory UWO is a long-term experiment to monitor the space-time dynamics of the - not only urban - water cycle in the Fehraltorf region. It is a field laboratory, a testing ground for sensor technology and IoT telemetry, and an outdoor classroom all in one. This package includes a SWMM model of the UWO catchment and a compilation of all geo-information data related to the catchment. Additionally, information about the system and the catchment is provided. This package is published as part of a bundle which consists of the packages UWO - [Accompanying data (2019 to 2021)]( https://doi.org/10.25678/000991), [UWO - Data access (2019 to 2021)](https://doi.org/10.25678/000980), [UWO - Data viewer (2019 to 2021)](https://doi.org/10.25678/00092Z) and [UWO - Field observations (2019 to 2021)]( https://doi.org/10.25678/00091Y).53 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in June 2022 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW123 weeks ago
- Human alteration of ecosystems and anthropogenic environmental change are causing the loss of biodiversity at an unprecedented rate. The extinction of species often leaves ecological niches underutilized, and their colonization by other extant or new species may require novel adaptations. In Lake Constance, an endemic profundal whitefish species went extinct during a period of anthropogenic eutrophication between ~1950 and ~2000. In the process of its extinction, the deep-water species extensively hybridized with the three surviving Lake Constance whitefish species, resulting in introgression of genetic variation that is potentially adaptive in deep-water habitats. One of the surviving whitefish species, *C. macrophthalmus*, has recently started to expand into greater depth than historically recorded. Here we asked if it is currently adapting to the deep-water environment and if admixture variation introgressed from the extinct species may contribute. We sampled a water depth transect across a known spawning ground that includes the deepest known current whitefish spawning site in Lake Constance. We caught spawning individuals in much greater depths (90m) than previously reported for this species. We sequenced 11-17 whole genomes of fish sampled at each of six different water depths (4m, 12m, 20m, 40m, 60m and 90m). We document morphological and genomic intraspecific differentiation within *C. macrophthalmus* along the water depth gradient. While genome-wide differentiation along the spawning depth gradient was absent, we identified 52 regions in the genome that are potentially under divergent selection between the deepest (90m) and all shallower (4-60m) spawning habitats. At 12 (23.1%) of these 52 loci, the allele frequency pattern across historical and contemporary populations suggests that introgression from the extinct species may currently facilitate ongoing adaptation to deep water. Our results are consistent with the syngameon hypothesis of adaptive radiation, proposing that hybridization between members of an adaptive radiation can promote further niche expansion and diversification. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that genetic variation from extinct species, maintained after historical introgression into extant species, can be an important source of evolvability under environmental change and may contribute to ecological resilience or recovery of ecosystem functions after extinctions.93 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in August 2020 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW133 weeks ago
- Monitoring water quality in sewers is challenging, particularly because state-of-the-art technologies require contact with the raw wastewater. The presence of fat, oil, grease and solids makes automated grab sampling difficult and causes sensor fouling. To overcome these limitations, non-contact methods based on light reflectance, such as hyperspectral imaging (HSI), are gaining attention. However, HSI has never been tested for raw wastewater. To assess its accuracy for measuring pollution, we developed a laboratory setup and performed targeted experiments with a combination of raw and diluted wastewater, as well as synthetic turbidity stock solutions. We measured seven pollution variables: chemical oxygen demand, turbidity, dissolved organic compounds, ammonium, total nitrogen, phosphate, and sulphates. We used automated pixel selection and partial least squares regression to retrieve pollution information from the hyperspectral images. Our results, based on 144 samples, suggest that HSI can estimate pollution levels with a precision in the range of state-of-the-art absorbance spectroscopy methods. Additionally, we found that the combination of pixel and wavelength selection, enabled by the hyperspectral data structure, significantly influences the performance of partial least square modelling. Overall, our findings indicate that HSI is a promising technology for non-contact monitoring of water quality in raw wastewater.43 weeks ago
- Surface-attached microbial communities consist of different cell types that, at least to some degree, organize themselves non-randomly across space (referred to as spatial self-organization). While spatial self-organization can have important effects on the functioning, ecology and evolution of communities, the underlying determinants of spatial self-organization remain unclear. Here, we hypothesize that the presence of physical objects across a surface can have important effects on spatial self-organization. Using pairs of isogenic strains of Pseudomonas stutzeri, we performed range expansion experiments in the absence or presence of physical objects and quantified the effects on spatial self-organization. We demonstrate that physical objects create local deformities along the expansion frontier, and these deformities increase in magnitude during range expansion. The deformities affect the densities of interspecific boundaries and diversity along the expansion frontier, and thus affect spatial self-organization, but the effects are interaction-dependent. For competitive interactions that promote sectorized patterns of spatial self-organization, physical objects increase the density of interspecific boundaries and diversity. By contrast, for cross-feeding interactions that promote dendritic patterns, they decrease the density of interspecific boundaries and diversity. These qualitatively different outcomes are probably caused by fundamental differences in the orientations of the interspecific boundaries. Thus, in order to predict the effects of physical objects on spatial self-organization, information is needed regarding the interactions present within a community and the general geometric shapes of spatial self-organization that emerge from those interactions. This article is part of the theme issue 'Conceptual challenges in microbial community ecology'.33 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in November 2018 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targetting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targetting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW143 weeks ago
- River water can be used to recharge aquifers exploited for drinking water production. Several recent studies reported microplastics (MPs) in river water, and therefore, the potential contamination of groundwater by MPs is a growing concern among stakeholders and citizens. In this research, we investigate the fate of MPs (> 20 µm) along six different stages of a major Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR)-water supply system in Switzerland. About 20 l of water were filtered using steel meshes at each location in triplicates. In the laboratory, MPs deposited on the anodisc filters were identified using Focal Plane Array (FPA) micro-Fourier-Transform-InfraRed (µFTIR) spectroscopy. The obtained hyperspectral data were processed using the imaging software Microplastics Finder for MPs identification and classification. Our results revealed a 20-fold decrease in MPs concentration from the Rhine River bed water (112 ± 27.4 MPs/l) to after the coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation (5.5 ± 2.2 MPs/l), a further 3-fold decrease to after the sand-filtration system (1.8 ± 0.9 MPs/l), corresponding to an overall removal efficiency of 98.4%. The MPs concentrations remained low following MAR (2.7 ± 0.7 MPs/l) through a Quaternary gravel aquifer. Activated carbon filters did not substantially further reduce MPs concentrations. The percentage of fragments (≈95%) prevailed over fibers (≈5%) at all locations, with fibers being longer and more abundant in the river water. Overall, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of the treatment systems to remove MPs larger than 20 µm. Finally, we calculated an uncertainty in MPs concentrations of one order of magnitude depending on the user-defined parameters inside the MPs identification and classification model. The Quality Assurance/Quality Control approach followed during laboratory analysis highlighted an accumulation of surrogate particles at the edges of the disc, which would have an impact for MPs number upscaling.23 weeks ago
- CTD, Meteo, nutrient chemistry and Aquascope camera data, used to predict Chl-a as part of Gabriel Vallat civil service project. There is a data set with daily averages and one with hourly measurements. In each dataset a single average value was calculated across the photic zone (0-8m) for each profile, and zooplankton and phytoplankton cluster abundances were estimated using machine learning classifier output of Aquascope camera data (more information about aquascope see https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW)23 weeks ago
- The project aim is to monitor some target lakes and detect the extent of ice, the duration of lake ice and in particular the ice-on/off dates, with focus on the integration of various input data and processing methods. Thereby, various approaches will be implemented, developed, compared and integrated. Firstly, low spatial resolution (250 - 1000 m) but high temporal resolution (1 day) satellite images from various sensors will be used. Several spectral bands will be used, both reflective and emissive (thermal). Secondly, and as a pilot project, the use of existing Webcams will be investigated for (a) validation of results from satellite data, and (b) independent estimation of lake ice, especially for small lakes that cannot be detected in the satellite images. Thirdly, in-situ measurements will be made in order to characterize the development of the temperature profiles before freezing and under the ice-cover until melting. Besides the validation of the results from other data, this data will be used to calibrate a one-dimensional turbulence model so that the criteria for freezing of different Swiss lakes can be derived as a function of meteorological and other conditions in late autumn and winter. It is expected that the developed methods and software can be used, possibly with some modifications, also for data acquired in the future. The project is a feasibility study, which should lead to a comparison and analysis of the above three techniques and recommendations to MeteoSwiss for further actions.73 weeks ago
- Nutrients, including vital organic compounds, vary in availability across ecosystems, with the potential to act as a strong source of selection for traits that increase nutrient acquisition and biosynthesis. Compared to freshwaters, marine ecosystems are much richer in the omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and thus marine animals establishing new freshwater populations are faced with the challenge of acquiring DHA. The relative roles of the metabolic capacity and diet in the freshwater establishment process remain unresolved. We explored both metabolic and dietary responses to the nutritional constraints of freshwater environments for threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus), integrating sampling of wild populations and common garden experiments in two related studies. Specifically, we examined how genetic capacity in terms of fads2 copy number and the DHA content of diets influenced phenotypes and performance in the field and lab. We collected data on: 1) relative fads2 copy numbers of wild stickleback across Europe, 2) fatty acid content of wild stickleback and their potential macroinvertebrate prey sampled in Switzerland, 3) relative availability of macroinvertebrate prey from streams with stickleback, 4) gut contents of wild Swiss stickleback, 5) fatty acid content of lab-reared stickleback reared in common garden and their chironomid diets, and 6) length, mass, and condition of lab-reared sticklebacks.103 weeks ago
- LéXPLORE is a state-of-the-art research platform situated on Lake Geneva, dedicated to a wide range of limnological studies. This innovative platform is the result of a collaborative effort between five leading institutions: Eawag, EPFL, INRAE, UNIGE, UNIL. Since February 2019, the LéXPLORE platform is anchored at 110 m depth off the lake's north-shore (46°30'00.8"N 6°39'39.0"E). The data presented here is part of the core dataset maintained by the technical team of LéXPLORE. The data is used and displayed on the Datalakes website where other related data or products can be visualised and downloaded. The specific dataset contains raw and processed data recorded by a surface waves databuoy records. Data includes surface wave height, period and direction.23 weeks ago
- Wastewater as a medium contains information on both circulating pathogens and drug consumption at the population level. This study combines tracking of respiratory viruses and quantification of pharmaceuticals as untargeted indicators of symptoms related to acute respiratory infections and influenza-like illnesses such as coughing, fever and pain. From January 2021 to June 2024, raw wastewater samples from ten locations covering 23% of the Swiss population were analysed. This encompassed 15 pharmaceuticals and four priority respiratory viruses including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus virus-2, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza A and influenza B. The pharmaceutical compounds dextromethorphan, pheniramine, clarithromycin, acetaminophen and codeine showed a strong correlation with respiratory virus loads in wastewater. This enabled the estimation of pathogen-specific and cumulative symptom treatment in the population. In 2021 and 2024, notable increases in pharmaceutical loads without corresponding increases in viral loads signalled high community symptoms linked to unsurveilled pathogens. This study demonstrates that pharmaceutical surveillance can inform respiratory disease burden and highlights the value of integrated surveillance for assessing emerging public health threats beyond those routinely monitored.23 weeks ago
- Enriching a biomass with polyhydroxyalkanoate-storing organisms (PHA-storers) is an essential step in upgrading organic carbon from municipal wastewater to PHAs (bioplastics). A major challenge is to create selective growth conditions favourable to PHA-storers while using continuous reactors. Our study investigates high influent COD to phosphorus ratios (COD:P ratios) as a tool for robust selection of PHA-storers in a single continuous-flow stirred-tank reactor (CSTR). Therefore, we operated five CSTRs in parallel, fed with synthetic wastewater (50% acetate - 50% propionate) with different COD:P ratios (200-1000 gCOD gP-1), and performed a detailed analysis of the microbial communities over long-term (30-70 solid retention times). Our study demonstrates that efficient and robust selection of PHA-storers can be achieved in a single CSTR at high influent COD:P ratios. The selective advantage for PHA-storers increases with the influent COD:P ratio, but only as long as growth conditions remain limited by both carbon substrate and P. Indeed, selection performance deteriorates when COD:P ratios are too high and growth conditions are limited by P only. At an optimal COD:P ratio of 800 gCOD gP-1, a stable microbial community consisting of >90% PHA-storers and dominated by Pannonibacter sp. was selected in the long-term. Finally, our results suggest that high COD:P ratios provide a selective advantage to microorganisms with low cellular P requirements, explaining why different PHA-storers (i.e. Xanthobacter sp. vs. Pannonibacter sp.) were selected depending on the influent COD:P ratio (i.e. 200 vs. 800 gCOD gP-1). Overall, we propose a new CSTR-based approach for selecting PHA-storers as a relevant alternative to the conventional approach relying on the use of sequencing batch reactors.23 weeks ago
- Code and data associated with the manuscript: Online monitoring of greywater reuse system using excitation-emission matrix (EEM) and K-PARAFACs. Abstract: A currently increasing interest in water reuse is met with the concern about water quality. Excitation-emission matrix (EEM) measurements, which are widely implemented in laboratory analysis, emerge as a promising tool for characterizing both microbial and chemical water qualities in the online monitoring of water reuse systems. However, the robustness of EEM measurements has been rarely validated in actual online monitoring campaigns where predictions are made for new samples independent of those used to establish EEM analysis models, including the popular parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). In this study, two strategies of conducting PARAFAC were examined for the online monitoring of a greywater reuse system using two EEM datasets from two monitoring periods for model establishment and model testing respectively. With the first strategy that is commonly used in laboratory analyses, an entire EEM datasets from one period was used to establish one PARAFAC model, and the maximum fluorescence intensity (Fmax) of a PARAFAC component was used to predict total cell count (TCC) in another period. However, under the disturbance of dissolved organic matter (DOM) fluorescence in the background, Fmax gave unreliable predictions in model testing. To address this problem, a second and novel strategy was proposed using an EEM clustering and PARAFAC component shift mining technique. This unsupervised algorithm, named K-PARAFACs, automatically groups EEMs into K clusters and on each cluster establishes a cluster-specific PARAFAC model with distinct component shapes. With this method, multiple PARAFAC models were established on one EEM dataset, with each model representing samples with certain TCC ranges and DOM compositions. In model testing, these cluster-specific PARAFAC models served as EEM classifiers. A new sample was not characterized by Fmax but by the cluster-specific model that best fitted the EEM signal of the sample with the least numerical error. The proposed strategy demonstrates its robustness by successfully predicting the TCC trend in test datasets. Our findings suggest that K-PARAFACs is a promising tool that enables robust qualitative monitoring of water reuse systems with background DOM variability.43 weeks ago
- The persistence of antibiotic resistant (AR) bacteria in the absence of antibiotic pressure raises a paradox regarding the fitness costs associated with antibiotic resistance. These fitness costs should slow the growth of AR bacteria and cause them to be displaced by faster-growing antibiotic sensitive (AS) counterparts. Yet, even in the absence of antibiotic pressure, slower-growing AR bacteria can persist for prolonged periods of time. Here, we demonstrate a mechanism that can explain this apparent paradox. We hypothesize that lytic phage can modulate bacterial spatial organization to facilitate the persistence of slower-growing AR bacteria. Using surface-associated growth experiments with the bacterium Escherichia coli in conjunction with individual-based computational simulations, we show that phage disproportionately lyse the faster-growing AS counterpart cells located at the biomass periphery via a peripheral kill-the-winner dynamic. This enables the slower-growing AR cells to persist even when they are susceptible to the same phage. This phage-mediated selection is accompanied by enhanced bacterial diversity, further emphasizing the role of phage in shaping the assembly and evolution of bacterial systems. The mechanism is potentially relevant for any antibiotic resistance genetic determinant and has tangible implications for the management of bacterial populations via phage therapy.83 weeks ago
- Biodegradation holds promise as an effective and sustainable process for the removal of synthetic chemical pollutants. Nevertheless, rational engineering of biodegradation for pollutant remediation remains an unfulfilled goal, while chemical pollution of waters and soils continues to advance. Efforts to (i) identify functional bacteria from aquatic and soil microbiomes, (ii) assemble them into biodegrading consortia, and (iii) identify maintenance and performance determinants, are challenged by large number of pollutants and the complexity in the enzymology and ecology of pollutant biodegradation. To overcome these challenges, approaches that leverage knowledge from environmental bio-chem-informatics and metabolic engineering are crucial. Here, we propose a novel high-throughput bio-chem-informatics pipeline, to link chemicals and their predicted biotransformation pathways with potential enzymes and bacterial strains. Our framework systematically selects the most promising candidates for the degradation of chemicals with unknown biotransformation pathways and associated enzymes from the vast array of aquatic and soil bacteria. We substantiated our perspective by validating the pipeline for two chemicals with known or predicted pathways and show that our predicted strains are consistent with strains known to biotransform those chemicals. Such pipelines can be integrated with metabolic network analysis built upon genome-scale models and ecological principles to rationally design fit-for-purpose bacterial communities for augmenting deficient biotransformation functions and study operational and design parameters that influence their structure and function. We believe that research in this direction can pave the way for achieving our long-term goal of enhancing pollutant biodegradation.143 weeks ago
- ## There is [a newer version](https://doi.org/10.25678/00050C) of this dataset. **There is [an older version](https://doi.org/10.25678/0002A0) of this dataset.** The “National Long-term Surveillance of Swiss Rivers” (NADUF) program was initiated in 1972 as a cooperative project between three institutes: + [Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)](https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/en/home.html) + [Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG)](https://www.eawag.ch) + [Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)](https://www.wsl.ch/en.html) (since 2003) The following institutes participated later: + [Amt für Umwelt und Energie des Kantons Basel-Stadt (AUE)](https://www.aue.bs.ch) + [Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS)](https://www.metas.ch/metas/en/home.html) With the NADUF program, the chemical-physical state of Swiss rivers as well as intermediate-term and long-term changes in concentration are observed. Furthermore, it provides data for scientific studies on biological, chemical and physical processes in river water. The NADUF network serves as a basic data and sampling facility to evaluate the effectiveness of water protection measures and for various scientific projects.123 weeks ago
- Package contains input and output data for the article 'Impact of soil moisture content on urban tree evaporative cooling and human thermal comfort'23 weeks ago
- This dataset contains deep features extracted from Aquascope images taken in lake Greifensee from 2018 to 2025. Deep features were extracted using a MobileNetV3-Large convolutional neural network pre-trained on ImageNet with no fine tuning. As such they are generic but similar features have been proven to still be relevant for plankton images (Orenstein and Beijbom, 2017). They can serve as a basis for further classification or trait-based ecological studies. More information about Aquascope: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW913 weeks ago
- Predicting the response of hydrologic systems to modified driving forces, beyond patterns that have occurred in the past, is of high importance for estimating climate change impacts or the effect of management measures. This kind of predictions requires a model, but the impossibility of testing such predictions against observed data makes it difficult to estimate their reliability. Metamorphic testing offers a methodology for assessing models beyond validation with real data. It consists of defining input changes for which the expected responses are assumed to be known at least qualitatively, and to test model behavior for consistency with these expectations. To increase the gain of information and reduce the subjectivity of this approach, we extend this methodology to a multi-model approach and include a sensitivity analysis of the predictions to training or calibration options. This allows us to quantitatively analyse differences in predictions between different model structures and calibration options in addition to the qualitative test to the expectations. In our case study, we apply this approach to selected conceptual and machine learning hydrological models calibrated to basins from the CAMELS data set. Our results confirm the superiority of the machine learning models over the conceptual hydrologic models regarding the quality of fit during calibration and validation periods. However, we also find that the response of machine learning models to modified inputs can deviate from the expectations and the magnitude and even the sign of the response can depend on the training data. In addition, even in cases in which all models passed the metamorphic test, there are cases in which the quantitative response is different for different model structures. This demonstrates the importance of this kind of testing beyond and in addition to the usual calibration-validation analysis to identify potential problems and stimulate the development of improved models.23 weeks ago
- Reliable dewatering performance remains a key challenge in fecal sludge management, and the controlling factors or mechanisms are not well understood. There remain limited studies on constituents in feces and fecal sludge and how they affect the dewaterability of fecal sludge. This study aimed at evaluating a range of constituents in feces, and to gain empirical knowledge toward a mechanistic understanding of how they influence dewaterability. In this study, cellulose reduced capillary suction time, decreased supernatant turbidity, and increased cake solids. While hemicellulose decreased supernatant turbidity, lignin increased supernatant turbidity, capillary suction time, and cake solids. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) increased both capillary suction time and supernatant turbidity and decreased cake solids, whereas lipids increased turbidity. Cations had no significant effect on dewatering properties. Overall, fecal sludge stored in containments had better dewatering performance than ‘fresh’ fecal sludge, which was attributed to stabilization. Field fecal sludge had a higher relative abundance of Pseudomonas, which is associated with better aggregation, and fewer small particles (<10 μm) that clog filters to reduce dewatering performance. Further understanding of stabilization and developing an agreed-upon metrics of stabilization are essential for predicting fecal sludge dewatering performance, and developing smaller footprint dewatering treatment technologies.83 weeks ago
- Data for: Fungal hyphae promote bacterial contact-dependent killing during surface-associated growthBacterial contact-dependent killing in spatially structured systems is shaped by physical constraints and biological interactions. In this study, we demonstrate the importance of fungal hyphae in facilitating bacterial dispersal and promoting contact-dependent killing during surface-associated growth. Using Vibrio cholerae as a killing bacterium and Pseudomonas stutzeri as a target bacterium, we show that fungal hyphae act as dispersal agents that facilitate bacterial spatial intermixing and promote contact-dependent killing. Specifically, we show that dispersal along fungal hyphae increases the number of contacts between V. cholerae and P. stutzeri cells, which in turn increases the extent of killing via the type VI secretion system (T6SS) encoded by V. cholerae. This enables V. cholerae to achieve growth dominance despite initial population disadvantages. We further show that the effect of fungal hyphae on the killing efficacy of V. cholerae depends on flagellar motility. Our study underscores the multifaceted effects of fungal hyphae in enhancing bacterial dispersal and intensifying interspecies interactions, highlighting the ecological significance of fungal-bacterial interactions in spatially structured systems.103 weeks ago
- ## There is [a newer version](https://doi.org/10.25678/0006MV) of this dataset. **There is [an older version](https://doi.org/10.25678/00050C) of this dataset.** The “National Long-term Surveillance of Swiss Rivers” (NADUF) program was initiated in 1972 as a cooperative project between three institutes: + [Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)](https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/en/home.html) + [Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG)](https://www.eawag.ch) + [Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)](https://www.wsl.ch/en.html) (since 2003) The following institutes participated later: + [Amt für Umwelt und Energie des Kantons Basel-Stadt (AUE)](https://www.aue.bs.ch) + [Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS)](https://www.metas.ch/metas/en/home.html) With the NADUF program, the chemical-physical state of Swiss rivers as well as intermediate-term and long-term changes in concentration are observed. Furthermore, it provides data for scientific studies on biological, chemical and physical processes in river water. The NADUF network serves as a basic data and sampling facility to evaluate the effectiveness of water protection measures and for various scientific projects. ### Data 2019 and 2020 The physical data for the period 2019 and 2020 are provisional. Accordingly, the chemical data are not yet definitive.123 weeks ago
- ## There is [an older version](https://doi.org/10.25678/0004Q3) of this dataset. This package contains the supplementary information (SI) of chapter 3 of the dissertation of Frederik T. Weiss with the Dissertation No. ETH 27434 (defended: 24th February, 2021), entitled: "Pesticides in a tropical Costa Rican stream catchment: from monitoring and risk assessment to the identification of possible mitigation options". Generally within this thesis the supplementary information (SI) is divided into three parts (SI A, SI B, SI C). For each chapter, SI A section contains background information/data for the reader with quick and easy access added directly after each main chapter. SI B contains raw data, further processed data for analysis, and figures of processed data presented as Excel files. SI C combines the R scripts with information and commands utilized for the statistical analysis. The abstract of chapter 3 reads as follows: "A pesticide monitoring in the Tapezco river catchment region in two subsequent years (2015/2016) revealed that intensive pesticide use leads to contamination of streams. As shown in Chapter 2, 87 pesticide and pesticide transformation products (PPTP), comprising insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and several of their transformation products (TP) were identified by applying sorbent-based passive sampling approaches at the five (2015), respectively eight (2016), sub-catchment (SC) sites. Using these monitoring data as a basis, the first aim of this study was to exploit the measured environmental concentrations (MEC) of the PPTP with regard to their spatio-temporal distribution among the different sampling sites in the Tapezco river catchment. To enable a comparison between the two sampling years, of the 87 detected PPTP, the data set was narrowed down to those which were found in both sampling years, leading to a subset of 62 PPTP. Two MEC-based risk assessment approaches, one relying on Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) and the other on the Toxic Units (TU) concept focusing on invertebrates, were used to identify if the PPTP pose health risks to aquatic biota either singly or in mixture. As well, available macroinvertebrate data for four sites (SC1, SC4, SC5 and SC8) was evaluated in view of the indicated water quality, applying the species at risk pesticide (SPEARpesticide), the Costa Rican Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP-CR) Index, and the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Tricoptera (EPT)-taxa richness indices. For the 62 considered PPTP, spatial trends were observed. In more detail, at two connected sites (SC2 and SC3), the average number of PPTP was 2-fold lower compared to the six remaining sites. At all sites, insecticides had the broadest detected spectrum as opposed to the numbers of individual herbicides and fungicides. Conversely, at all sites and periods, fungicides had the highest average %contribution of the average sum-concentration among the individual detected pesticide types. Independent of the risk assessment approach applied, the quality of the water was indicated to be generally poor, pointing at chronic, and even acute effects to be expected for aquatic communities at all sampling sites. Invertebrates were the most affected organism group based on EQS and TU without any apparent time window to recover from pesticide stress during both sampling years. The SPEARpesticide and the BMWP-CR indices both indicated that, despite the continuous pesticide pollution stress at all sites, water quality seemed to be improved at SC5 and reached even a good to regular water quality at the most downstream site (SC8) compared to the other remaining sites (SC1 and SC4) for which macroinvertebrate data was available. The EPT-taxa richness index showed as well an improvement in water quality at SC8. This finding could be due to a larger river stretch upstream to the sampling site with no horticultural land and high share of natural forest. Given that all applied approaches confirmed substantial risks, there is an urgent need for a reduction of pesticides in streams of the Tapezoco catchment to improve the water quality in order to protect aquatic communities in these streams."43 weeks ago
- Contained in this package are all data related to the publication titled: Retrospective Wastewater Tracking of Measles Outbreak in Western Switzerland in Winter 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.5c00244 Keywords: Measles, Wastewater surveillance, Digital PCR, Outbreak detection, and Strain differentiation Included are all raw data used for generating plots and figures for the measles wild type and vaccine duplex in the report titled: Wastewater-based surveillance for measles, mumps, and rubella in Switzerland published for the FOPH. This package contains dPCR experiments and their corresponding excel files. This package also contains code associated with the data. If only excel data and code is of interest, please download the folder titled ***"ExcelDataForDuplexMeaslesWTVAPublication.zip"*** . Please start by downloading and reading the README file.63 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in September 2020 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW123 weeks ago
- Widespread implementation of on-site water reuse is hindered by the limited availability of monitoring approaches that ensure microbial quality during operation. In this study, we developed a methodology for monitoring microbial water quality in on-site water reuse systems using inexpensive and commercially available online sensors. An extensive dataset containing sensor and microbial water quality data for six of the most critical types of disruptions in membrane bioreactors with chlorination was collected. We then tested the ability of three typological machine learning algorithms – logistic regression, support-vector machine, and random forest – to predict the microbial water quality as “safe” or “unsafe” for reuse. The main criteria for model optimization was to ensure a low false positive rate (FPR) – the percentage of safe predictions when the actual condition is unsafe – which is essential to protect users health. This resulted in enforcing a fixed FPR ≤ 2%. Maximizing the true positive rate (TPR) – the percentage of safe predictions when the actual condition is safe – was given second priority. Our results show that logistic-regression-based models using only two out of the six sensors (free chlorine and oxidation-reduction potential) achieved the highest TPR. Including sensor slopes as engineered features allowed to reach similar TPRs using only one sensor instead of two. Analysis of the occurrence of false predictions showed that these were mostly early alarms, a characteristic that could be regarded as an asset in alarm management. In conclusion, the simplest algorithm in combination with only one or two sensors performed best at predicting the microbial water quality. This result provides useful insights for water quality modeling or for applications where small datasets are a common challenge and a general advantage might be gained by using simpler models that reduce the risk of overfitting, allow better interpretability, and require less computational power.33 weeks ago
- This package hosts the background information and the excel file that is necessary to build the Water Flow Diagram of Diender (Senegal). The Water Flow Diagram (WFD) is a visual tool that shows in one picture all the water resources and flows and identifies the challenges and opportunities of integrated (urban) water management in a specific area, usually a city.43 weeks ago
- This dataset contains long-term (2021–2023), high-frequency time series of dissolved gas concentrations—specifically CH₄, CO₂, H₂, N₂, O₂, Ar, He, and Kr—measured in deep alpine groundwater at **Lavey-les-Bains**, Switzerland. Measurements were acquired using a portable membrane-inlet mass spectrometer (**miniRUEDI**) and calibrated with certified gas standards to ensure high analytical precision. The time series span multiple seasonal cycles and are used to investigate how seasonal hydrological fluctuations influence microbial community structure in deep aquifers. These data underpin a peer-reviewed study that demonstrates a decoupling between dynamic geochemical conditions and the stability of microbial communities at depth. The repository includes: * Readme.md file. * Raw and cleaned gas measurement files from two deep thermal wells. * Scripts for processing, normalization, and seasonal analysis. ## Peer-Reviewed Article *Resilience of deep aquifer microbial communities to seasonal hydrological fluctuations* Authors: Sébastien Giroud, Longhui Deng, Mark A. Lever, Oliver S. Schilling, Rolf Kipfer DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.242260812253 weeks ago
- Many public environmental decisions are wicked problems due to high complexity and uncertainty. We test a participatory value-based framework based on multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to tackle such problems. Our framework addresses two important gaps identified in reviews of MCDA applications to environmental problems: including stakeholders and treating uncertainty. We applied our framework in two complex real-world cases concerning a paradigm shift in the wastewater sector; the transition from centralized wastewater systems to decentralized non-grid systems. Non-grid systems may solve some problems of centralized systems by reducing costs, increasing flexibility, and addressing growing demands on environmental issues, especially in rural areas. But non-grid systems have rarely been implemented in OECD countries, because it is unclear whether a transition is recommendable, and whether stakeholders would accept this shift. This problem allows addressing several fundamental research questions. As theoretical contribution, we found that stakeholder participation in MCDA is necessary, because different preferences of stakeholders can lead to different best-performing options in the assessments. Compared to the typical integrated assessment (IA) approach that excludes stakeholders' preferences, the MCDA process led to clearer outcomes. Results indicate that including the uncertainty of predicted consequences of options with Monte Carlo simulation helped discriminate between options and identify best-performing options. Challenging the uncertainty of elicited stakeholder preferences with sensitivity analyses, we found that best-performing options were especially sensitive to the MCDA aggregation model. Despite the high uncertainty, it was possible to suggest robust consensus options that would perform reasonably well for all stakeholders. As practical contribution, results indicated that a transition from the centralized to decentralized non-grid systems seems feasible. Most stakeholders assigned highest weights to environmental protection objectives in decision-making workshops. These stakeholder preferences implemented in MCDA led to a generally better assessment of innovative non-grid systems, especially when including urine source separation. Stakeholders perceived the MCDA process as beneficial and found results plausible. We conclude that the proposed participatory value-based framework is rigorous, but still feasible in practice. The framework is certainly transferable to any context and is open to testing and refinement in various applications to wicked decision problems.83 weeks ago
- Organic micropollutants in combined sewer overflows (CSOs) pose a potential risk to aquatic ecosystems. Previous studies mainly reported event mean concentrations (EMCs) and often focused on a small number of substances. This study presents realistic exposure scenarios using high-temporal resolution (10-minute) data from 24 events at two CSO sites. We analyzed 49 dissolved organic micropollutants for all events and 198 for four events, including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and road-related compounds, of which we detected 83 substances at least once. From these, we assessed the mixed chemical risk by applying acute quality criteria and evaluated how the risk assessment outcome changes for two aspects: temporal resolution and selection of substances. Our results reveal that total risk quotients (RQtot) can vary greatly within CSO events, with 10-minute data capturing peak concentrations that are missed with EMCs. Using EMCs underestimates the maximum RQtot of an event by a median factor of 4.9, up to a maximum factor of 6.9. When comparing a selection of 20 substances from the Swiss Waters Protection Ordinance to a broader list of 49 substances commonly detected at CSOs and a comprehensive list of 198 substances, the estimated RQtot increases between 1.1 to 2.3-fold. RQtot values exceed the threshold of 1 in 75% of the events, requiring further dilution in the receiving water body. All three pollutant classes (pharma, pesticide, road) drive the total risk, and no specific phase during overflow events consistently poses higher risk than other phases, which challenges the design of effective mitigation measures. Furthermore, the exposure scenarios presented here offer essential input for future ecotoxicological research as they reveal high short-term fluctuations in RQtot whose ecological significance is still largely unknown.23 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in March 2020 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW93 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in April 2020 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW123 weeks ago
- Owing to the importance of acetylcholine as neurotransmitter, many insecticides target the cholinergic system. Across phyla, cholinergic signaling is essential for many neuro-developmental processes including axonal pathfinding and synaptogenesis. Consequently, early-life exposure to such insecticides can disturb these processes, resulting in an impaired nervous system. One test frequently used to assess developmental neurotoxicity is the zebrafish light-dark transition test, which measures larval locomotion as response to light changes. However, it is only poorly understood which structural alterations cause insecticide-induced locomotion defects and how persistent these alterations are. Therefore, this study aimed to link locomotion defects with effects on neuromuscular structures, including motorneurons, synapses and muscles, and to investigate the longevity of effects. The cholinergic insecticides diazinon and dimethoate (organophosphates), methomyl and pirimicarb (carbamates), and imidacloprid and thiacloprid (neonicotinoids) were used to induce hypoactivity. Our analyses revealed that some insecticides did not alter any of the structures assessed, while others affected axon branching (methomyl, imidacloprid) or muscle integrity (methomyl, thiacloprid). The majority of effects, even structural, were reversible within 24 to 72 hours. Overall, we find that both, neurodevelopmental and non-neurodevelopmental effects of different longevity can account for reduced locomotion. These findings provide unprecedented insights into the underpinnings of insecticide-induced hypoactivity.93 weeks ago
- The application of oxidants for disinfection or micropollutant abatement during drinking water and wastewater treatment is accompanied by oxidation of matrix components such as dissolved organic matter (DOM). To improve predictions of the efficiency of oxidation processes and the formation of oxidation products, methods to determine concentrations of oxidant-reactive phenolic, olefinic or amine-type DOM moieties are critical.Here, a novel selective oxidative titration approach is presented, which is based on reaction kinetics of oxidation reactions towards certain DOM moieties. Phenolic moieties were determined by oxidative titration with ClO2 and O3 for five DOM isolates and two secondary wastewater effluent samples. The determined concentrations of phenolic moieties correlated with the electron-donating capacity (EDC) and the formation of inorganic ClO2-byproducts (HOCl, ClO2−, ClO3−). ClO2-byproduct yields from phenol and DOM isolates and changes due to the application of molecular tagging for phenols revealed a better understanding of oxidant-reactive structures within DOM.Overall, oxidative titrations with ClO2 and O3 provide a novel and promising tool to quantify oxidant-reactive moieties in complex mixtures such as DOM and can be expanded to other matrices or oxidants.23 weeks ago
- Analyzing groundwater mixing ratios is crucial for many groundwater management tasks such as assessing sources of groundwater recharge and flow paths. However, estimating groundwater mixing ratios is affected by various uncertainties, which are related to analytical and measurement errors of tracers, the selection of end-members and finding the most suitable set of tracers. Although these uncertainties are well recognized, it is still not common practice to account for them. We address this issue by using a new set of tracers in combination with a Bayesian modeling approach, which explicitly considers the possibility of unknown end-members while fully accounting for tracer uncertainties. We apply the Bayesian model we developed to a tracer set which includes helium-4 analyzed on-site to determine mixing ratios in groundwater. Thereby, we identify an unknown end-member, that contributes up to 84% to the water mixture observed at our study site. For the helium-4 analysis, we use a newly developed Gas Equilibrium Membrane Inlet Mass Spectrometer (GE-MIMS), operated in the field. To test the reliability of on-site helium-4 analysis, we compare results obtained with the GE-MIMS to the conventional lab-based method, which is comparatively expensive and labor intensive. Our work demonstrates that (i) tracer-aided Bayesian mixing modeling can detect unknown water sources, thereby revealing valuable insights into the conceptual understanding of the groundwater system studied and ii) on-site helium-4 analysis with the GE-MIMS system is an accurate and reliable alternative to the lab-based analysis.43 weeks ago
- Nitrit ist eine ökotoxikologisch problematische Substanz und führt auf Kläranlagen ausserdem zur Bildung von klimaschädlichem Lachgas. In der hier vorgestellten Studie werden verschiedene Online-Sensoren verglichen und deren Messunsicherheit in Ablauf und Belebtschlamm erfasst.33 weeks ago
- Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) is well suited to address complex public policy problems but could benefit from new tools to involve many laypeople. Online information on specialized topics could be more engaging by including game elements. This paper reports an experiment that assessed a gamified interface to (1) inform laypeople about the objectives to consider in wastewater management decisions, (2) assist them in constructing range-based preferences, and (3) provide a positive experience. We measured the effects with (1) a knowledge pre- and posttest, (2) the elicited weights and a range sensitivity index, and (3) an experience questionnaire based on self-determination theory. Answers from 174 participants indicated that participants learnt about the objectives and constructed preferences in both the gamified and control treatments. However, in neither were weights sufficiently adjusted. Our gamification making the ranges salient did not help overcome this bias. Both treatments were experienced as neutral to positive, the gamified being more entertaining. We discuss implications: if gamification of tools for participatory decision-making is to be promoted, it requires further research. Range insensitivity remains an unresolved bias in MCDA.63 weeks ago
- By infiltrating and retaining stormwater, Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) can help to reduce Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), one of the main causes of urban water pollution. Several studies have evaluated the ability of individual BGI types to reduce CSOs; however, the effect of combining these elements, likely to occur in reality, has not yet been thoroughly evaluated. Moreover, the CSO volume reduction potential of relevant components of the urban drainage system, such as detention ponds, has not been quantified using hydrological models. This study presents a systematic way to assess the potential of BGI combinations to mitigate CSO discharge in a catchment near Zurich (Switzerland). Sixty BGI combinations, including four BGI elements (bioretention cells, permeable pavement, green roofs, and detention ponds) and four different implementation rates (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of the available sewer catchment area) are evaluated for four runoff routing schemes. Results reveal that BGI combinations can provide substantial CSO volume reductions; however, combinations including detention ponds can potentially increase CSO frequency, due to runoff prolongation. When runoff from upstream areas is routed to the BGI, the CSO discharge reductions from combinations of BGI elements differ from the cumulative CSO discharge reductions achieved by individual BGI types, indicating that the sum of effects from individual BGI types cannot accurately predict CSO discharge in combined BGI scenarios. Moreover, larger BGI implementation areas are not consistently more cost-effective than small implementation areas, since the additional CSO volume reduction does not outweigh the additional costs. The best-performing BGI combination depends on the desired objective, being CSO volume reduction, CSO frequency reduction or cost-effectiveness. This study emphasizes the importance of BGI combinations and detention ponds in CSO mitigation plans, highlighting their critical factors—BGI types, implementation area, and runoff routing— and offering a novel and systematic approach to develop tailored BGI strategies for urban catchments facing CSO challenges.73 weeks ago
- This package provides material related to the paper: B. Hadengue, E. Morgenroth, T. A. Larsen, L. Baldini (2022) Performance and Dynamics of Active Greywater Heat Recovery in Buildings, Applied Energy, Volume 305, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117677 ## Paper Abstract In the effort to de-carbonize the building stock, heat pumps are increasingly utilized in Switzerland, with 70% of the fast-growing heat pump market using ambient air as heat source. Inexpensive and easy to implement, these heat pumps are, however, less efficient than their ground- or water-source counterparts. In this modeling study, we aim at increasing the efficiency of air-source heat pumps using domestic greywater-contained heat. We assess the performance improvement relative to standard heat pump configurations across various climates, seasons, building envelopes, and domestic hot water consumption patterns. The results show that the annually-averaged COP improves by 4.1% on average – ranging from 0.6% to 7.5%. This efficiency gain translates on average to 1.8 kWh/week of compressor electricity savings. Although attractive due to its simplicity, the proposed open-loop configuration – preheating of an external heat source – only leads to moderate performance improvement of air-source heat pumps. Based on these results, we extensively discuss and compare alternative system configurations and identify several fundamental differences in the heat recovery dynamics of each configuration. We show that closed-loop systems – using greywater as direct heat source – show the largest performance improvement potential, although being more expensive and complex to implement.43 weeks ago
- A growing number of cities and regions are promoting or mandating on-site treatment and reuse of wastewater, which has resulted in the implementation of several thousand on-site water reuse systems on a global scale. However, there is only limited information on the (microbial) water quality from implemented systems. The focus of this study was on two best-in-class on-site water reuse systems in Bengaluru, India, which typically met the local water quality requirements during monthly compliance testing. This study aimed to (i) assess the microbial quality of the reclaimed water at a high temporal resolution (daily or every 15 min), and (ii) explore whether measurements from commercially available sensors can be used to improve the operation of such systems. The monitoring campaign revealed high variations in microbial water quality, even in these best-in-class systems, rendering the water inadequate for the intended reuse applications (toilet flushing and landscape irrigation). These variations were attributed to two key factors: (1) the low frequency of chlorination, and (2) fluctuations of the chlorine demand of the water, in particular of ammonium concentrations. Such fluctuations are likely inherent to on-site systems, which rely on a low level of process control to adapt to changes in conditions. The monitoring campaign showed that the microbial water quality was most closely related to oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and free chlorine sensors. Due to its relatively low cost and low need for maintenance, the ORP emerges as a compelling candidate for automating the chlorination to effectively manage variations in chlorine demand and ensure safe water reuse. Overall, this study underscores the necessity of integrating treatment trains, operation, and monitoring for safe on-site water reuse.43 weeks ago
- Discrete choice (DC) methods provide a convenient approach for preference elicitation and they lead to unbiased estimates of preference model parameters if the parameterization of the value function allows for a good description of the preferences. On the other hand, indifference elicitation (IE) has been suggested as a direct trade-off estimator for preference elicitation in decision analysis decades ago, but has not found widespread application in statistical analysis frameworks as for discrete choice methods. We develop a hierarchical, probabilistic model for IE that allows us to do Bayesian inference similar to DC methods. A case study with synthetically generated data allows us to investigate potential bias and to estimate parameter uncertainty over a wide range of numbers of replies and elicitation uncertainties for both DC and IE. Through an empirical case study with laboratory-scale choice and indifference experiments, we investigate the feasibility of the approach and the excess time needed for indifference replies. Our results demonstrate (i) the absence of bias of the suggested methodology, (ii) a reduction in the uncertainty of estimated parameters by about a factor of three or a reduction of the required number of replies to achieve a similar accuracy as with DC by about a factor of ten, (iii) the feasibility of the approach, and (iv) a median increase in time needed for indifference reply of about a factor of three. If the set of respondents is small, the higher elicitation effort may be worth to achieve a reasonable accuracy in estimated value function parameters.43 weeks ago
- Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) is usually considered to be a biofilm system consisting of gran-ules only, although practical experience suggests that flocs and granules of various sizes co-exist. This study thus focused on understanding the contribution of flocs and granules of vari-ous sizes to nitrification in a full-scale AGS-based wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) operated as a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The size distribution in terms of total suspended solids (TSS) and the distribution of the nitrifying communities and activities were monitored over 14 months. Our results indicate that AGS is a hybrid system in which flocs (<0.25 mm) play a crit-ical role in nitrification. AGS consisted of 36% flocs and 50% large granules (>2 mm) at a TSS concentration of 4.7 ± 0.7 gTSS L-1. The growth of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ni-trite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) in large granules was limited due to the high mass transfer limita-tion in biofilm and the high solids retention time (SRT) of flocs, where favorable conditions for the growth of nitrifiers were maintained during the warm season. The specific activities of the small aggregates (<1 mm) were 5 to 15 times higher than those of large granules. As a result, flocs contributed >50% to nitrification during the warm season, whereas granules >1 mm con-tributed <20%. Such predominance of flocs in nitrification became problematic in the cold sea-son when the minimum SRT of NOB increased to values similar to the floc SRT, resulting in 79% loss of the NOB. Consequently, NOB activities dropped, and elevated effluent nitrite con-centrations of several mgN L-1 were monitored. We suggest operating AGS systems similarly to hybrid systems in order to promote the enrichment of NOB in the granules by controlling the floc SRT at low values smaller than the minimum SRT of NOB throughout the year.23 weeks ago
- This dataset comprises raw and processed data from controlled experiments to evaluate the effects of incremental sand and leaf litter accumulation on the hydrological performance of blue-green infrastructure (BGI). The experiments were conducted in a controlled indoor environment using two BGI boxes (each approximately 3.84 m²), replicating a typical infiltration-based BGI system with vegetation, a 6-cm deep substrate layer, and storage layers. Soil moisture sensors and tipping buckets were used to monitor underdrain flow. In one box, sand was gradually added in quantities ranging from 2 to 18 kg·m⁻², while in the other, leaf litter accumulation varied from 0.3 to 1.725 kg. Rainfall was applied to each scenario (16.66 mm·h⁻¹ for Box 1 and 18.66 mm·h⁻¹ for Box 2) for 30 minutes, with at least four-hour intervals between tests. This dataset provides valuable insights into the impact of high pollutant loads on the surface and subsurface of BGI systems during shock events and the maintenance requirements necessary to sustain their hydrological functionality.23 weeks ago
- For evaluating the effect of the Swiss national action plan for risk reduction and sustainable use of plant protection products, a pesticide risk indicator for surface waters was developed by the research institute Agroscope. However, this risk indicator has not been validated with field measurements. Therefore, the project "RisiMo" aimed on validating this risk indicator using pesticide monitoring data from Swiss surface waters. As a data basis, measurements from the programs "NAWA TREND", "NAWA SPEZ", and cantonal monitoring programs were used.33 weeks ago
- For two decades now, partial nitritation anammox (PNA) systems were suggested to more efficiently remove nitrogen (N) from mainstream municipal wastewater. Yet to date, only a few pilot-scale systems and even fewer full-scale implementations of this technology have been described. Process instability continues to restrict the broad application of PNA. Especially problematic are insufficient anammox biomass retention, the growth of undesired aerobic nitrite-oxidizers, and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. In this study, a two-stage mainstream pilot-scale PNA system, consisting of three reactors (carbon pre-treatment, nitritation, anammox - 8 m3 each), was operated over a year, treating municipal wastewater. The aim was to test whether both, robust autotrophic N removal and high effluent quality, can be achieved throughout the year. A second aim was to better understand rate limiting processes, potentially affecting the overall performance of PNA systems. In this pilot study, excellent effluent quality, in terms of inorganic nitrogen, was accomplished (average effluent concentrations: 0.4 mgNH4-N/L, 0.1 mgNO2-N/L, 0.9 mgNO3-N/L) even at wastewater temperatures previously considered problematic (as low as 8 °C). N removal was limited by nitritation rates (84±43 mgNH4-N/L/d), while surplus anammox activity was observed at all times (178±43 mgN/L/d). Throughout the study, nitrite-oxidation was maintained at a low level (< 2.5% of ammonium consumption rate). Unfortunately, high N2O emissions from the nitritation stage (1.2% of total nitrogen in the influent) were observed, and, based on natural isotope abundance measurements, could be attributed to heterotrophic denitrification. In situ batch experiments were conducted to identify the role of dissolved oxygen (DO) and organic substrate availability in N2O emission-mitigation. The addition of organic substrate, to promote complete denitrification, was not successful in decreasing N2O emission, but increasing the DO from 0.3 to 2.9 mgO2/L decreased N2O emissions by a factor of 3.4.23 weeks ago
- Meteo data from the monitoring platform in Greifensee, Switzerland. There are three datasets: 2011 - 2018, 2019 - 11.12.2020, and 11.12.2020 - 2021. Note that the meteo station was upgraded on 11.12.2020. The data has been cleaned and a summary per hour is included for easier use.23 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in March 2019 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targetting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targetting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW103 weeks ago
- Draft genome of *Daphnia galeata* shared with international collaborators and used for early access research purposes. This intermediate draft was produced using ONT Nanopore sequencing data (*D. galeata* clone G100-F1a) and assembled using CANU v1.8 and polished iteratively with Racon, Medaka, and Pilon. Improvements were assessed by BUSCO v3 and mapping success of Illumina derived WGS and RNAseq libraries from the same (G100-F1a) clone. The draft annotation was created using Maker.53 weeks ago
- Code and maps associated with the article Podgorski, J., and M. Berg (2022), Global analysis and prediction of fluoride in groundwater, Nature Communications, doi:10.1038/s41467-022-31940-x.33 weeks ago
- This package contains raw data, preprocessed data, and simulation results for the following manuscript: Lechevallier, P., Zhu, W., Shi, B., McCarthy, D., Rieckermann, J., 2025. Non-contact hyperspectral monitoring of urban wastewater quality: Optimization of model calibration and performance. Journal of Environmental Management 394, 127217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127217 This package also includes Python codes for data preprocessing, simulations, and the generation of manuscript figures and tables.33 weeks ago
- In this package we provide data from the monitoring platform on Greifensee, Switzerland. Data includes automated multiparameter (CTD) probe profiling (Ocean Seven 316Plus) and Meteo (Vaisala Oyj WXT520 & OTT HydroMet WS700-UMB) data, as well as manual samples taken for nutrient chemistry analysis (laboratory - Aua). CTD and Meteo data has been cleaned and a detailled description can be found in the ReadMe file. This package is associated with plankton community data (of the same time period), published here https://doi.org/10.25678/000C2G. Funded by SNF projects 310030L_182124 and CRSII5_202290.63 weeks ago
- **Dataset for** Comparative Analysis of Pesticide Use Determinants Among Smallholder Farmers From Costa Rica and Uganda. From cleaned data to figures. Original data not included. **Publication Title:** Comparative Analysis of Pesticide Use Determinants Among Smallholder Farmers From Costa Rica and Uganda **Publication Abstract:** Pesticides are used globally in agriculture and pose a threat to the health of farmers, communities, and the environment. Smallholder farmers in low-and middle-income countries have generally a low socio-economic status and educational level. Consequently, they are particularly vulnerable to negative impacts of pesticides on their health, yields, or land. In a Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices study, we compared the pest management practices between a market-oriented farming system in Zarcero County, Costa Rica, and a subsistence-based farming system in Wakiso District, Uganda. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among smallholder farmers from Costa Rica (n = 300) in 2016 and from Uganda (n = 302) in 2017. We enrolled conventional and organic farmers, but also farmers with mixed practices and non-applicators of any pest management strategy. We found that the majority of pesticides used in both case studies are classified as highly hazardous by the World Health Organization. While more than 90% of smallholder farmers from both countries were aware of the negative health effects of pesticide exposure, <11% in Costa Rica and <2% in Uganda reported using personal protective equipment every time they handled or applied pesticides. Hygiene and other safe use practices were not adopted by all farmers (<61%), especially among farmers applying more hazardous pesticides. Conventional farmers from Costa Rica (14%) and Uganda (19%) reported disposing pesticide residuals into rivers. Using a logistic regression we found that organic farmers were more likely to having been trained on safe pesticide use practices. Using a robust regression, we observed that smallholder household income was primarily driven by education and not directly by the use of synthetic pesticides. Our results suggest that negative effects of pesticides can be managed over the whole life cycle, from purchase, via storage and application to residual and waste management by fostering professionalization of farmers. We advise future safe use and handling interventions to consider the pesticide use-related socioeconomic and demographic findings highlighted in this paper.43 weeks ago
- Groundwater recharge indicates the existence of renewable groundwater resources and is therefore an important component in sustainability studies. However, recharge is also one of the least understood, largely because it varies in space and time and is difficult to measure directly. For most studies, only a relatively small number of measurements is available, which hampers a comprehensive understanding of processes driving recharge and the validation of hydrogeological model formulations for small- and large-scale applications. We present a new global recharge dataset encompassing >5000 locations. In order to gain insights into recharge processes, we provide a systematic analysis between the dataset and other global-scale datasets, such as climatic or soil-related parameters. Precipitation rates and seasonality in temperature and precipitation were identified as the most important variables in predicting recharge. The high dependency of recharge on climate indicates its sensitivity to climate change. We also show that vegetation and soil structure have an explanatory power for recharge. Since these conditions can be highly variable, recharge estimates based only on climatic parameters may be misleading. The freely available dataset offers diverse possibilities to study recharge processes from a variety of perspectives. By noting the existing gaps in understanding, we hope to encourage the community to initiate new research into recharge processes and subsequently make recharge data available to improve recharge predictions.33 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in June 2020 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW153 weeks ago
- The dataset and metadata for the paper "Quantities and qualities of faecal sludge: Experiences from field implementation with a Volaser in 7 countries during a pandemic". Reasonable estimates for quantities and qualities (Q&Q) of faecal sludge that accumulate in onsite sanitation containments are fundamental for the design of appropriate management and treatment solutions, from community to city-scale. There are increasing attempts to improve Q&Q estimates, but current approaches are still at a conceptual level, and are not yet standardized with confirmed statistical relationships. To reach this level, we will need consistent approaches for planning, measuring, and global collaborations. Hence, the objectives of this study were: 1) to assess and compare Q&Q of faecal sludge from seven cities and communities, and explore statistical relationships that could be used to increase accuracy of Q&Q estimations; 2) to test and launch the Volaser device for measuring in situ volumes of faecal sludge; and 3) to capture lessons learned from field implementation with collaborators in seven countries during a global pandemic when no international travel was possible. The study took place in Ghana, India, Lebanon, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zambia during the Covid-19 pandemic. Q&Qs were measured in 204 containments with a Volaser, laboratory analysis, and questionnaire. Results indicate that there are differences in Total Solids (TS) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in faecal sludge based on containment type, toilet type, source, and whether there is a water connection on the premises. Based on the results of this study, together with previously published open-source data, an empirical relationship for Volatile Solids (VS) and TS of 0.49 (R2=0.88) was established using 1,206 data points. For COD/TS, no significant relationship was observed. Developing such empirical relationships will be useful for planning and modelling approaches. An external evaluation was conducted to evaluate overall project management, Volaser technology transfer, and effects of collaborating during the Covid-19 pandemic. Success factors for collaborating with new and existing partners without face-to-face meetings included laboratory capacity and experience with analytical methods, study objectives that were relevant for the partner and locality, and a strong quality assurance plan to ensure comparability of results. The lessons learned can be taken forward as ways to reduce carbon footprint, and contribute to resilient, inclusive development research projects.33 weeks ago
- Modern plankton high-throughput monitoring relies on deep learning classifiers for species recognition in water ecosystems. Despite satisfactory nominal performances, a significant challenge arises from the dataset shift, where performance drops during real-world deployment compared to ideal testing conditions. In our study, we integrate the ZooLake dataset, which consists of dark-field images of lake plankton, with manually-annotated images from 10 independent days of deployment, serving as test cells to benchmark out-of-dataset (OOD) performances. Our analysis reveals instances where classifiers, initially performing well in ideal conditions, encounter notable failures in real-world scenarios. For example, a MobileNet with a 92% nominal test accuracy shows a 77% OOD accuracy. We systematically investigate conditions leading to OOD performance drops and propose a preemptive assessment method to identify potential pitfalls when classifying new data, and pinpoint features in OOD images that adversely impact classification. We present a three-step pipeline: (i) identifying OOD degradation compared to nominal test performance, (ii) conducting a diagnostic analysis of degradation causes, and (iii) providing solutions. We find that ensembles of BEiT vision transformers, with targeted augmentations addressing OOD robustness, geometric ensembling, and rotation-based test-time augmentation, constitute the most robust model. It achieves an 83% OOD accuracy, with errors concentrated on container classes. Moreover, it exhibits lower sensitivity to dataset shift, and reproduces well the plankton abundances. Our proposed pipeline is applicable to generic plankton classifiers, contingent on the availability of suitable test cells. Implementation of this pipeline is anticipated to usher in a new era of robust classifiers, resilient to dataset shift, and capable of delivering reliable plankton abundance data. By identifying critical shortcomings and offering practical procedures to fortify models against dataset shift, our study contributes to the development of more reliable plankton classification technologies.43 weeks ago
- This package contains data and code used in the publication with the following abstract. Food contact materials (FCM) may contain complex mixtures of estrogenic chemicals. A yeast estrogen screen performed on high performance thin-layer chromatography plates (planar-YES, P-YES) is promising for analysis ofsuch mixtures, as it could allow for better elucidation ofeffects compared with established methods in microtiter plates. However, the P-YES has not been directly compared with established methods. We compared the performance ofa microtiter plate YES (lyticase-YES, L-YES) to P-YES on silica gel HPTLC plates using 17β-estradiol (E2), 20 chemicals representative ofmigrants from plastic FCM, and three migrates ofcoated metal food cans. Effective doses (ED10,ED50) and estradiol equivalencies were calculated for each chemical. Thirteen chemicals had calculable EDs in the L-YES or P-YES, with average EDs 13-fold (range 0.63–36) more potent in P-YES than in the L-YES. Normalized to E2, the median estrogenicity was within 1.5-fold (0.43–8.8) between the assays. Therefore, PYES was as or more sensitive than L-YES but potencies relative to E2 were comparable between assays. With chromatography, the P-YES detected estrogenicity in coated metal cans, effects that were unmeasurable in L-YES. With the sample preparation methods used in this study, both YES assays are sufficiently sensitive to detect bisphenol A below the specific migration limit for plastic packaging (0.05 mg/kg food). This study demonstrates that P-YES outperforms L-YES because it is more sensitive, provides comparable estradiol equivalents, and circumvents confounding mixture effects. The P-YES will be useful for routine monitoring ofFCM and toxicant identification in problematic materials.23 weeks ago
- Multi-step substrate consumption pathways can promote microbial biodiversity via cross-feeding. If one cell-type preferentially consumes a primary substrate rather than the subsequently formed intermediates, then other cell-types can specialize at consuming the intermediates. While this mechanism for promoting biodiversity is established, predicting the long-term persistence of such cross-feeding interactions remains challenging. Under what conditions will the interaction (and thus biodiversity) persist or disappear? To address this question, we propagated co-cultures of two isogenic strains of the bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri. One completely reduces nitrate to nitrogen gas but preferentially reduces nitrate rather than nitrite (referred to as the generalist) while the other only reduces nitrite to nitrogen gas (referred to as the specialist). We found that the two strains coexist via nitrite cross-feeding when grown together, but the initial ratio of specialist-to-generalist (rS/G) determines the long-term dynamics of the co-culture. Co-cultures with large initial rS/Gs converge to the same rS/G and persist thereafter. Co-cultures with small initial rS/Gs also converge to the same rS/G but then become increasingly dominated by the generalist. The likely cause of these different dynamics is that the initial rS/G determines the initial environment, which in turn determines the initial selection pressures and phenotypes acquired by the generalist. Our results demonstrate that initial community composition controls the long-term dynamics and persistence of a cross-feeding interaction, and is therefore an important factor for community development and for engineering communities to achieve desired outcomes.33 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in February 2020 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW93 weeks ago
- This data package contains all raw digital PCR (dPCR) data used in the manuscript titled “Clade-specific multiplex digital PCR assay for monkeypox virus detection in wastewater". The study presents the development of a dPCR assay capable of detecting and quantifying the monkeypox virus (MPXV) while simultaneously distinguishing between its clades.23 weeks ago
- ## There is [an older version](https://doi.org/10.25678/0004P2) of this dataset. This package contains the supplementary information (SI) of chapter 2 of the dissertation of Frederik T. Weiss with the Dissertation No. ETH 27434 (defended: 24th February, 2021), entitled: "Pesticides in a tropical Costa Rican stream catchment: from monitoring and risk assessment to the identification of possible mitigation options". Generally within this thesis the supplementary information (SI) is divided into three parts (SI A, SI B, SI C). For each chapter, SI A section contains background information/data for the reader with quick and easy access added directly after each main chapter. SI B contains raw data, further processed data for analysis, and figures of processed data presented as Excel files. SI C combines the R scripts with information and commands utilized for the statistical analysis. The abstract of chapter 2 reads as follows: "For monitoring of pesticides in tropical streams, cost-efficient and easily applicable approaches are needed. Moreover, to capture short pesticide concentration peaks, a time-integrated sampling is preferable to conventional snapshot grab sampling. Passive sampling approaches fulfil these criteria. Therefore, this chapter focusses on the application of three passive sampling devices to monitor 275 pesticides and pesticide transformation products (PPTP) in the horticultural Tapezco river catchment over several months in two consecutive years. Two of the samplers were sorbent-based: reverse phase sulfonated styrene-divinylbenzene (SDB) disks and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sheets, yielding biweekly integrated averaged PPTP concentrations. The third sampler was a low-cost, non-sorbent-based, water level proportional sampling system (WLPSS), yielding water level-weighted, biweekly integrated PPTP concentrations. The objectives were to (1) test the performance and robustness of these samplers (2) obtain comprehensive quantitative pesticide concentration data and (3) provide recommendations for their field application in future monitoring campaigns. Of the 275 targeted PPTP, 87 polar and semi-polar PPTP were detected with the SDB method and 99 with the WLPSS, of which 77 were found with both systems. In several cases (10 with SDB, 22 with WLPSS), a pesticide was only detected by one of the set-ups; this exclusive detection could be due to the respective substance concentrations being close to or below the method limit of quantification (MLOQ) for the sampler where it was not detected. Despite the different sampling principles for SDB and WLPSS, the same pesticides (carbendazim and flutolanil) were found with the highest median water concentrations (> 100 ng/L) with both samplers. The complementary PDMS system allowed detection of 11 non-polar pesticides. Among these, cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos and permethrin showed the highest concentrations (> 2 ng/L). Chlorpyrifos was the only pesticide detected with all three sampling techniques. Standard deviations for detected chlorpyrifos concentrations were the highest for SDB sampling, likely due to a lag-phase in sampling across the membrane covering the sampler due to the chemical’s high hydrophobicity. Moreover, derived chlorpyrifos water concentrations were significantly higher using the WLPSS compared to SDB and PDMS sampling. This was also seen for another six pesticides sampled with the WLPSS compared to SDB sampling. Higher concentrations detected via WLPSS can be explained by the ability of the WLPSS to collect pesticide peaks associated with heavy rainfall events and linked to rise of water levels in a more pronounced fashion as compared to the time-integrated sampling manner of the SDB and PDMS samplers. Yet, only a small portion, 15%, of the WLPSS samples collected, could be used to yield water level-weighted, time-integrated concentration (CWLW) data, calling for a need to further optimize and standardize the application of this device. Of the devices tested, the SDB disks were the easiest to apply and the most cost-efficient for short-term monitoring campaigns. The SDB sampling can be conducted in sparsely equipped laboratory facilities, while for the PDMS sheets and the WLPSS, sample preparation and extraction are technically more demanding."53 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in June 2018 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW113 weeks ago
- Lacustrine alkenones are increasingly reported in freshwater lakes worldwide, which makes them a very promising proxy to reconstruct past continental temperatures. However, a more systematic understanding of ecological preferences of freshwater alkenone-producers at global scale is lacking, which limits our understanding of alkenones as a proxy in lakes. Here we investigated 56 Swiss freshwater lakes and report Group 1 alkenones in 33 of them. In twelve of the lakes containing alkenones, a mixed Group 1/Group 2 alkenone signature was detected. We used a random forest (RF) model to investigate the influence of 15 environmental variables on alkenone occurrence in Swiss lakes and found sodium (Na+) concentration and mean annual air temperature (MAAT) to be the most important variables. We also trained a RF model on a database that included Swiss lakes and all freshwater lakes worldwide, which were previously investigated for alkenone presence. Water depth appeared as the most important variable followed by MAAT and Na+, sulfate and potassium concentrations. This is very similar to results found for freshwater and saline lakes, which suggests that Group 1 and Group 2 alkenone occurrence could be controlled by the same variables in freshwater lakes. For each tested variable, we defined the optimal range(s) for the presence of alkenones in freshwater lakes. The similarity of the results for the Swiss and global models suggests that the environmental parameters controlling the occurrence of freshwater alkenone producers could be homogenous worldwide.23 weeks ago
- Untreated combined sewage (bypass) is often discharged by wastewater treatment plants to receiving rivers during stormwater events, where it may contribute to increased levels of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and multi-resistance risk factors (multi-resistant bacteria and multi-resistance genomic determinants (MGDs)) in the receiving water. Other contamination sources, such as soil runoff and resuspended river sediment could also play a role during stormwater events. Here we report on stormwater event-based sampling campaigns to determine temporal dynamics of ARGs and multi-resistance risk factors in bypass, treated effluent, and the receiving river, as well as complimentary data on catchment soils and surface sediments. Both indicator ARGs (qPCR) and resistome (ARG profiles revealed by metagenomics) indicated bypass as the main contributor to the increased levels of ARGs in the river during stormwater events. Furthermore, we showed for the first time that the risk of exposure to bypass-borne multi-resistance risk factors increase under stormwater events and that many of these MGDs were plasmid associated and thus potentially mobile. In addition, elevated resistance risk factors persisted for some time (up to 22 hours) in the receiving water after stormwater events, likely due to inputs from distributed overflows in the catchment. This indicates temporal dynamics should be considered when interpreting the risks of exposure to resistance from event-based contamination. We propose that reducing bypass from wastewater treatment plants may be an important intervention option for reducing dissemination of antibiotic resistance.173 weeks ago
- Contamination with pesticides, rising water temperatures and pathogen pressure represent a multiple stressor scenario relevant to surface water ecosystems globally. This study investigated the combination of three environmental stressors on juvenile brown trout, Salmo trutta. Fish acclimatised to either 12 or 15°C, were exposed for 14 days to one (at 12°C) or two (at 15°C) sublethal concentrations of a pesticide mixture (fluopyram, epoxiconazole, diuron, chlorpyrifos, λ-cyhalothrin), then were maintained in clean water for three months, with half exposed to T. bryosalmonae, the causative agent of proliferative kidney disease (PKD). Pesticide exposure alone neither caused mortality nor changes in growth, hematocrit, or organ indices. However, the transcriptome (RNA-Seq) and gene expression (RT-qPCR) in brain and liver were significantly altered. No interactions between temperature and pesticide exposure were observed on apical, physiological, or qPCR endpoints and susceptibility to PKD was not affected by pesticide exposure. However, transcriptomic analysis revealed that the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by pesticides was greater at 15°C. Moreover, the number of DEGs affected by temperature in the brain was strongly reduced in the presence of pesticides. In addition, fish exhibited decreased basal oxygen consumption 2.5 months after exposure to the higher pesticide concentration at 15°C suggesting potential metabolic trade-offs. Overall, our findings emphasize the need for ecotoxicological studies to incorporate multi-stressor scenarios and the importance of considering sublethal effects in understanding the response of fish populations to pesticide contamination in a changing climate.23 weeks ago
- Denitrification in oxic environments occurs when a microorganism uses nitrogen oxides as terminal electron acceptors even though oxygen is available. While this phenomenon is well-established, its consequences on ecological and evolutionary processes remain poorly understood. We hypothesize here that denitrification in oxic environments can modify the accumulation profiles of nitrogen oxide intermediates, with cascading effects on the evolutionary potentials of denitrifying microorganisms. To test this, we performed laboratory experiments with Paracoccus denitrificans and complemented them with individual-based computational modeling. We found that denitrification in low oxic environments significantly increases the accumulation of nitrite and nitric oxide. We further found that the increased accumulation of these intermediates has a negative effect on growth at low pH. Finally, we found that the increased negative effect at low pH increases the number of individuals that contribute to surface-associated growth. This increases the amount of genetic diversity that is preserved from the initial population, thus increasing the number of genetic targets for natural selection to act upon and resulting in higher evolutionary potentials. Together, our data highlight that denitrification in low oxic environments can profoundly affect the ecological processes and evolutionary potentials of denitrifying microorganisms by modifying the accumulation of nitrogen oxide intermediates.33 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in April 2023 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW123 weeks ago
- This package provides material related to the paper: B. Hadengue, E. Morgenroth, T.A. Larsen, Screening innovative technologies for energy-efficient domestic hot water systems, Journal of Environmental Management (2022) doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115713 Abstract ----------- Domestic hot water systems are large energy consumers. With the aim of reducing the energy footprint of these systems, we selected and simulated five technologies across a wide range of technology readiness levels: established technologies – pipe insulation and low-flow faucets –, relatively new technologies – shower drain heat exchangers and an innovative pipe system – and a novel experimental technology – a heat exchanger connected to membrane bioreactor for on-site greywater treatment. Using the WaterHub modeling framework, we simulated the technologies alone and in combination and compared the energetic performance of fifteen scenarios with a validated reference domestic hot water system. Low-flow appliances as standalone technologies performed best with 30% less energy required for the boiler tank, but combining low-flow appliances with a membrane bioreactor heat exchanger performed best overall (50% reduction). Deep insights into the temperature dynamics at all locations in the system led to the identification of technological competition patterns to prevent and synergies to exploit. Through our results, we are able to discuss and recommend further investigations regarding critical aspects like hygiene and economic performance.33 weeks ago
- Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assays for eae and stx2 detection using fluorescence signal monitoring73 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in July 2021 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW123 weeks ago
- The primer sequences for Influenza A amplicon sequencing targeting HA, NA, and M segments23 weeks ago
- This package contains data and scripts to reproduce results of Petrovan, Moor & Schmidt (2025). Trends in abundance change are estimated for Europe’s two most common amphibian species, the common toad (Bufo bufo) and the common frog (Rana temporaria), in Switzerland (1973 to 2021) and the UK (1985 to 2021), with Bayesian hierarchical models (N-mixture models and continuous trend models). The data are national scale volunteer-collected data across Switzerland (from infofauna karch) and Britain (from Froglife) over four decades. We included nearly 4 million toad records across an average 86 populations per year in Switzerland and 1.5 million records of toads from Britain spread across an average of 80 populations per year.23 weeks ago
- **There is a newer version for this data package:** https://doi.org/10.25678/000GF9 In 2021, the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) tasked Eawag to deploy temperature monitoring stations in several lakes in view of a Swiss-wide temperature monitoring network. The monitoring station in Lake Ägeri (Canton Zug) was introduced in November 2022 and it was operated until the end of 2024 by FOEN (financing) and Eawag (operation and maintenance). The measurement station consists of a profiling sonde, which is recording vertical profiles several times a day. Starting from November 2023, Canton Zug financed a sensor for algae pigment measurements, which was subsequently integrated into the sonde. At the end of 2024, the measurement station was transferred from FOEN to Canton Zug. Since January 2025, the measurement station is operated jointly by Canton Zug (financing), FOEN (financial contribution to data processing and server infrastructure) and Eawag (operation and maintenance). Lake Ägeri has a surface area of 7.2 km2, a maximum depth of around 83 m and is located 724 m a.s.l. The coordinates of the measurement station are: 47.125 N, 8.609 E and the local depth is around 81 m.33 weeks ago
- Bioaccumulation of organic contaminants from contaminated food sources, might pose an underestimated risk towards shredding invertebrates. This assumption is substantiated by monitoring studies observing discrepancies of predicted tissue concentrations determined from lab-based experiments compared to measured concentrations of systemic pesticides in gammarids. To elucidate the role of dietary uptake in bioaccumulation, gammarids were exposed to leaf material from trees treated with a systemic fungicide mixture (azoxystrobin, cyprodinil, fluopyram and tebuconazole), simulating leaves entering surface waters in autumn. Leaf concentrations, spatial distribution, and leaching behaviour of fungicides were characterised using LC-HRMS/MS and MALDI-MS imaging. The contribution of leached fungicides and fungicides taken up from feeding was assessed by assembling caged (no access) and uncaged (access to leaves) gammarids. The fungicide dynamics in the test system were analysed using LC-HRMS/MS and toxicokinetic modelling. Additionally, a summer scenario was simulated where water was the initial source of contamination and leaves contaminated by sorption. The uptake, translocation and biotransformation of systemic fungicides by trees was compound dependent. Internal fungicide concentrations of gammarids with access to leaves were much higher than in caged gammarids of the autumn scenario, but the difference was minimal in the summer scenario. In food choice and dissectioning experiments gammarids did not avoid contaminated leaves and efficiently assimilated contaminants from leaves indicating the relevance of this exposure pathway in the field. The present study demonstrates the potential impact of dietary uptake on in situ bioaccumulation for shredders in autumn, outside the main application period. Obtained toxicokinetic parameters facilitate modelling of environmental exposure scenarios. The uncovered significance of the dietary uptake for detritivores warrants further consideration from scientific but also regulatory perspectives.33 weeks ago
- Multilateral development banks (MDBs) play a pivotal role in financing water and sanitation infrastructure projects and thus have a major impact on the development of basic services. Although information about the MDBs' investments is publicly available, it is dispersed and not easily comparable. A comprehensive compilation of MDBs' water and sanitation investments has long been lacking. To address this gap, we assess water and sanitation financing by the three MDBs most relevant to Africa and Asia between 1960 and 2020: the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the Asian Development Bank. We compile a new dataset by drawing on 3,639 water and sanitation projects and assess territorial trends, technology choices, distribution of financial burdens, and reforms to institutional arrangements. We find that MDBs' investments align with changing patterns of urbanization and increasingly finance sanitation infrastructures including non-sewered technologies. However, our results also suggest that institutional reforms have addressed utility efficiency through investment in equipment and skills rather than through increased commercialization and private sector participation. The leverage effect of MDB investment on private financing is negligible, whereas co-financing from local governments dominates.43 weeks ago
- We evaluated how intermittent shear influences the physical structure, material properties and hydraulic resistance of membrane biofilms developed during gravity-driven ultrafiltration of river water, with the ultimate goal of increasing the filtration performances. Our results indicate intermittent shear helps slowing-down the flux decline but does not help to increase the level of stabilisation of the permeate flux. After several weeks, the biofilms exposed to different shear regimes were indeed characterised by similar hydraulic resistance. But the characteristic time to achieve a stable flux increased from 7 d to 25d when increasing the shear frequency. Also, most of the hydraulic resistance (up to 95%) was governed by the base layer that remained attached after erosion tests. With increasing exposure to shear conditions, the biofilms became more cohesive and more elastic, thus resisting better to cross flow conditions. Overall, our results demonstrate that engineering membrane biofilms with a desired permeability is not feasible using intermittent shear due to significant adaptability of the biofilms to their hydraulic environment.73 weeks ago
- Future climatic, demographic, technological, urban and socio-economic challenges call for more flexible and sustainable wastewater infrastructure systems. Exploratory modelling can help to investigate the consequences of these developments on the infrastructure. In order to explore large numbers of adaptation strategies, we need to re-balance the degree of realism of sewer network and ability to reflect key performance characteristics against the model's parsimony and computational efficiency. We present a spatially explicit algorithm for creating sanitary sewer networks that realistically represent key characteristics of a real system. Basic topographic, demographic and urban characteristics are abstracted into a squared grid of ‘Blocks’ which are the foundation for the sewer network's topology delineation. We compare three different pipe dimensioning approaches and found a good balance between detail and computational efficiency. With a basic hydraulic performance assessment, we demonstrate that we attain a computationally efficient and high-fidelity wastewater sewer network with adequate hydraulic performance. A spatial resolution of 250 m Block size in combination with a sequential Pipe-by-Pipe (PBP) design algorithm provides a sound trade-off between computational time and fidelity of relevant structural and hydraulic properties for exploratory modelling. We can generate a simplified sewer network (both topology and hydraulic design) in 18 s using PBP, versus 36 min using a highly detailed model or 1 s using a highly abstract model. Moreover, this simplification can cut up to 1/10th to 1/50th the computational time for the hydraulic simulations depending on the routing method implemented. We anticipate our model to be a starting point for sophisticated exploratory modelling into possible infrastructure adaptation measures of topological and loading changes of sewer systems for long-term planning.73 weeks ago
- This package hosts the background information and the excel file that is necessary to build the Water Flow Diagram of Bern (Switzerland). The Water Flow Diagram (WFD) is a visual tool that shows in one picture all the water resources and flows and identifies the challenges and opportunities of integrated (urban) water management in a specific area, usually a city.43 weeks ago
- This package hosts the background information and the excel file that is necessary to build the Water Flow Diagram of Santa Maria Bulacan (Philippines). The Water Flow Diagram (WFD) is a visual tool that shows in one picture all the water resources and flows and identifies the challenges and opportunities of integrated (urban) water management in a specific area, usually a city.43 weeks ago
- The publication provides and describes a clean and expert-curated benchmark dataset to be used for machine-learning-based research in ecotoxicology. The package contains several data files associated with the challenges we propose and some supplementary data files to aid in the interpretation of results.33 weeks ago
- The micronutrient selenium (Se) exhibits a narrow range between essentiality and toxicity. In soils, Se speciation influences its mobility and plant availability, with implications for addressing unsafe Se levels in plant-based nutrition. We investigated how Se speciation varies with the molecular composition of organic matter (OM) in 92 Swiss topsoils spanning different land uses (i.e., croplands, grasslands, and forests). OM composition was characterized using pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), while Se speciation was determined in NaOH extracts using size exclusion chromatography coupled to UV and elemental mass spectrometry (SEC-UV-ICP-MS/MS). We found that Se speciation strongly relates to OM decomposition status and pH, and drastically differs between soil land uses. Cropland soils exhibited higher proportions of Se oxyanions and small hydrophilic organic Se, whereas forest and grassland soils contained more larger, aromatic organic Se compounds. Overall, these larger Se forms correlated with fresh and/or poorly decomposed, plant-derived OM, while oxyanions and small hydrophilic Se were linked to decomposed OM. Additionally, Se extractability by NaOH decreased with increasing soil pH, which may be due to stronger SOM stabilization, microbial processes, or higher Ca contents at higher pH. These results have important implications for Se plant availability considering land use changes and SOM degradation.23 weeks ago
- In light of increasingly diverse greywater reuse applications, this study proposes risk-based log-removal targets (LRTs) to aid the selection of treatment trains for greywater recycling at different collection scales, including appliance-scale reuse of individual greywater streams. An epidemiology-based model was used to simulate the concentrations of prevalent and treatment-resistant reference pathogens (protozoa: Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp., bacteria: Salmonella and Campylobacter spp., viruses: rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus, and Coxsackievirus B5) in the greywater streams for collection scales of 5-, 100-, and a 1000-people. Using quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA), we calculated LRTs to meet a health benchmark of 10-4 infections per person per year over 10’000 Monte Carlo iterations. LRTs were highest for norovirus at the 5-people scale and for adenovirus at the 100- and 1000-people scales. Example treatment trains were designed to meet the 95% quantiles of LRTs. Treatment trains consisted of an aerated membrane bioreactor, chlorination, and, if required, UV disinfection. In most cases, rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus and Cryptosporidium spp. determined the overall treatment train requirements. Norovirus was most often critical to dimension the chlorination (concentration × time values) and adenovirus determined the required UV dose. Smaller collection scales did not generally allow for simpler treatment trains due to the high LRTs associated with viruses, with the exception of recirculating washing machines and handwashing stations. Similarly, treating greywater sources individually resulted in lower LRTs, but the lower required LRTs nevertheless did not generally allow for simpler treatment trains. For instance, LRTs for a recirculating washing machine were around 3-log units lower compared to LRTs for indoor reuse of combined greywater (1000-people scale), but both scenarios necessitated treatment with a membrane bioreactor, chlorination and UV disinfection. However, simpler treatment trains may be feasible for small-scale and application-scale reuse if: (i) less conservative health benchmarks are used for household-based systems, considering the reduced relative importance of treated greywater in pathogen transmission in households, and (ii) higher log-removal values (LRVs) can be validated for unit processes, enabling simpler treatment trains for a larger number of appliance-scale reuse systems. The work presented here is published in: Reynaert et al. (2024). Water Research 264: 122216. DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.12221643 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in June 2019 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targetting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targetting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW183 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in October 2019 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW153 weeks ago
- This package hosts the background information and the excel file that is necessary to build the Water Flow Diagram of Rio Pado de Minas (BRazil). The Water Flow Diagram (WFD) is a visual tool that shows in one picture all the water resources and flows and identifies the challenges and opportunities of integrated (urban) water management in a specific area, usually a city.43 weeks ago
- **There is a newer version for this data package:** https://doi.org/10.25678/000GD7 In 2021, the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) tasked Eawag to deploy temperature monitoring stations in several lakes in view of a Swiss-wide temperature monitoring network. The monitoring station in Lake Hallwil (Canton Aargau) was introduced in July 2022 and it was operated until the end of 2024 by FOEN (financing) and Eawag (operation and maintenance). It consists of a thermistor chain with higher vertical resolution close to the surface. At the end of 2024, the measurement station was transferred from FOEN to Canton Aargau. Since January 2025, the measurement station is operated jointly by Canton Aargau (financing), FOEN (financial contribution to data processing and server infrastructure) and Eawag (operation and maintenance).43 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in December 2019 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW93 weeks ago
- **This dataset is part of [the UWO project](https://doi.org/10.25678/000C5K).** The digital field laboratory UWO is a long-term experiment to monitor the space-time dynamics of the - not only urban - water cycle in the Fehraltorf region. It is a field laboratory, a testing ground for sensor technology and IoT telemetry, and an outdoor classroom all in one. This package contains the basis for a Web App that allows the data users interact with the datapool. The data warehouse solution developed within the UWO project. This package is published as part of a bundle which consists of the packages UWO - [Accompanying data (2019 to 2021)]( https://doi.org/10.25678/000991), [UWO - Data access (2019 to 2021)](https://doi.org/10.25678/000980), [UWO - Data viewer (2019 to 2021)](https://doi.org/10.25678/00092Z) and [UWO - Field observations (2019 to 2021)]( https://doi.org/10.25678/00091Y).33 weeks ago
- Most of Earth’s biomass is composed of polysaccharides. During biomass decomposition, polysaccharides are degraded by heterotrophic bacteria as a nutrient and energy source and are thereby partly remineralized into CO2. As polysaccharides are heterogeneously distributed in nature, following the colonization and degradation of a polysaccharide hotspot the cells need to reach new polysaccharide hotspots. Even though many studies indicate that these degradation-dispersal cycles contribute to the carbon flow in marine systems, we know little about how cells alternate between polysaccharide degradation and motility, and which environmental factors trigger this behavioral switch. Here, we studied the growth of the marine bacterium Vibrio cyclitrophicus ZF270 on the abundant marine polysaccharide alginate, both in its soluble polymeric form as well as on its breakdown products. We used microfluidics coupled to time-lapse microscopy to analyze motility and growth of individual cells, and RNA sequencing to study associated changes in gene expression. We found that single cells grow at reduced rate on alginate until they form large groups that cooperatively break down the polymer. Exposing cell groups to digested alginate accelerates cell growth and changes the expression of genes involved in alginate degradation and catabolism, central metabolism, ribosomal biosynthesis, and transport. However, exposure to digested alginate also triggers cells to become motile and disperse from cell groups, proportionally increasing with the group size before the nutrient switch, and this is accompanied by high expression of genes involved in flagellar assembly, chemotaxis, and quorum sensing. We found that motile cells chemotax toward polymeric but not digested alginate, likely enabling them to find new polysaccharide hotspots. Overall, our findings reveal cellular mechanisms that might also underlie bacterial degradation-dispersal cycles, which influence the remineralization of biomass in marine environments.263 weeks ago
- Droplet evaporation is a general process in unsaturated environments that results in micro-scale hydrodynamic flows which in turn determine the spatial distributions of microbial cells across surfaces. These spatial distributions can have significant effects on the development and functioning of surface-associated microbial communities, with consequences for important processes such as the spread of plasmids. Here, we experimentally quantified how evaporation-induced hydrodynamic processes modulate the initial deposition patterns of microbial cells (via the coffee ring effect and Marangoni convection) and how these patterns control the spread of an antibiotic resistance-encoding plasmid during surface-associated growth. We found that plasmid spread is a function of the initial density of cells deposited along the droplet periphery, which is a manifestation of the coffee ring effect. Using an individual-based model, we systematically linked how the different initial cell deposition patterns caused by the relative strengths of the coffee ring effect and Marangoni convection determine the extent of plasmid transfer during surface-associated growth. Our study demonstrates that evaporation-induced hydrodynamic processes that are common in nature can alter crucial ecological properties of surface-associated microbial communities and control the proliferation of plasmids, with consequences on the spread of antibiotic resistance and other plasmid-encoded traits.33 weeks ago
- Characterizing how viruses evolve expands our understanding of the underlying fundamental processes, such as mutation, selection and drift. One group of viruses whose evolution has not yet been extensively studied are the Phycodnaviridae, a globally abundant family of aquatic large dsDNA viruses. Here we studied the evolutionary change of Paramecium bursaria Chlorella Virus 1 (PBCV-1) during experimental coevolution with its algal host. We used pooled genome sequencing of six independently evolved populations to characterize genomic change over five time points. Across six experimental replicates involving either strong or weak demographic fluctuations, we found single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at 67 sites. The occurrence of genetic variants was highly repeatable, with just two of the SNPs found in only a single experimental replicate. Three genes A122/123R, A140/145R and A540L showed an excess of variable sites, providing new information about potential targets of selection during Chlorella-Chlorovirus coevolution. Our data indicated that the studied populations were not mutation-limited and experienced strong positive selection. Our investigation highlighted relevant processes governing the evolution of aquatic large dsDNA viruses, which ultimately contributes to a better understanding of the functioning of natural aquatic ecosystems.73 weeks ago
- ## There is [a newer version](https://doi.org/10.25678/00090X) of this dataset. **There is [an older version](https://doi.org/10.25678/0008A7) of this dataset.** The “National Long-term Surveillance of Swiss Rivers” (NADUF) program was initiated in 1972 as a cooperative project between three institutes: + [Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)](https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/en/home.html) + [Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG)](https://www.eawag.ch) + [Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)](https://www.wsl.ch/en.html) (since 2003) The following institutes participated later: + [Amt für Umwelt und Energie des Kantons Basel-Stadt (AUE)](https://www.aue.bs.ch) + [Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS)](https://www.metas.ch/metas/en/home.html) With the NADUF program, the chemical-physical state of Swiss rivers as well as intermediate-term and long-term changes in concentration are observed. Furthermore, it provides data for scientific studies on biological, chemical and physical processes in river water. The NADUF network serves as a basic data and sampling facility to evaluate the effectiveness of water protection measures and for various scientific projects. ### Data from 2020 to 2022 The physical data for the years 2020 and 2022 are provisional. Accordingly, the chemical data are not yet definitive.123 weeks ago
- A key characteristic of decentralized greywater treatment and reuse is the high variability both in nutrient concentrations and flow. The variability in flow leads to stagnant water in the system and causes short-term fluctuations in the effluent water quality. Automated monitoring tools provide data to understand the underlying mechanisms behind the dynamics and to implement adapted control strategies. In this study, we investigated the fluctuations in a building-scale greywater treatment system comprising a membrane bioreactor followed by a biological activated carbon filter. Short-term dynamics in the effluent of the biological activated carbon filter were monitored with automated flow cytometry and turbidity and the impact of these fluctuations on different hygiene-relevant parameters in the reuse water was evaluated. Continuous biofilm detachment into the stagnant water in the biological activated carbon filter led to temporarily increased turbidity and cell concentrations in the effluent after periods of stagnation. The fluctuations in cell concentrations were consistent with a model assuming higher detachment rates during flow than during times with stagnant water. For this system, total cell concentration and turbidity were strongly correlated. Further, we could show that the observed increase in cell concentration was not related to a deterioration of organic carbon concentration, and the concentration of the opportunistic pathogens P. aeruginosa and L. pneumophila. We showed that turbidity measurements are sensitive to detect changes in the effluent water quality and can be used as a valuable tool to monitor the fluctuations caused by intermittent flow. The intermittent flow did not lead to an increase in opportunistic pathogens and from this study there are no indications that stagnant water in the BAC need to be prevented.23 weeks ago
- Widespread implementation of on-site water reuse systems is hindered by the limited ability to ensure the level of treatment and protection of human health during operation. In this study, we tested the ability of five commercially available online sensors (free chlorine (FC), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), pH, turbidity, UV absorbance at 254 nm) to predict the microbial water quality (removal of bacteria, removal of viruses, regrowth of bacteria) in membrane bioreactors followed by chlorination using logistic regression-based and mechanism-based models. We found that FC and ORP alone could predict the microbial water quality well, with ORP-based models generally performing better. We further observed that prediction accuracy did not increase when data from multiple sensors were integrated. We propose a methodology to link these online measurements to risk-based water quality targets, providing operation setpoints protective of human health for specific combinations of wastewaters and reuse applications. For instance, we recommend a minimum ORP of 705 mV to ensure a virus log-removal of 5, and an ORP of 765 mV for a log-removal of 6. These setpoints were selected to ensure that the percentage of events where the water is predicted to meet the quality target when it does not remains below 5%. Such a systematic approach to set sensor targets could be used in the development of water reuse frameworks (e.g., guidelines and regulations) that aim to cover a range of reuse applications with differential risks to human health.23 weeks ago
- Long-term temperature, oxygen and water clarity trends in Swiss lakes from monitoring data of cantonal offices and research institutes mandated by international lake commissions33 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in April 2021 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW123 weeks ago
- Ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss are major global challenges. When reproductive isolation between species is contingent upon the interaction of intrinsic lineage traits with features of the environment, environmental change can weaken reproductive isolation and result in extinction through hybridization. By this process called speciation reversal, extinct species can leave traces in genomes of extant species through introgressive hybridization. Using historical and contemporary samples, we sequenced all four species of an Alpine whitefish radiation before and after anthropogenic lake eutrophication and the associated loss of one species through speciation reversal. Despite the extinction of this taxon, substantial fractions of its genome, including regions shaped by positive selection before eutrophication, persist within surviving species as a consequence of introgressive hybridization during eutrophication. Given the prevalence of environmental change, studying speciation reversal and its genomic consequences provides fundamental insights into evolutionary processes and informs biodiversity conservation.93 weeks ago
- Wastewater samples from ARA Werdhölzli were analyzed for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from December 2020 through March 2021 using digital PCR. The digital PCR assay was a drop-off assay using primers and probes covering the spike deletion 69-70 and the ORF1a deletion 3675-5677. The drop-off assay allows quantitative estimates of the proportion of the total SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the wastewater that contains the target deletion regions. The data was collected, analyzed, and reported within the following manuscript: Caduff L, Dreifuss D, Schindler T, Devaux AJ, Ganesanandamoorthy P, Kull A, Stachler E, Fernandez-Cassi X, Beerenwinkel N, Kohn T, Ort C, Julian TR. Inferring transmission fitness advantage of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in wastewater using digital PCR. In Preparation.23 weeks ago
- In 2021, the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) tasked Eawag to deploy temperature monitoring stations in several lakes in view of a Swiss-wide temperature monitoring network. The monitoring station in Lake Ägeri (Canton Zug) was introduced in November 2022 and it was operated until the end of 2024 by FOEN (financing) and Eawag (operation and maintenance). The measurement station consists of a profiling sonde, which is recording vertical profiles several times a day. Starting from November 2023, Canton Zug financed a sensor for algae pigment measurements, which was subsequently integrated into the sonde. At the end of 2024, the measurement station was transferred from FOEN to Canton Zug. Since January 2025, the measurement station is operated jointly by Canton Zug (financing), FOEN (financial contribution to data processing and server infrastructure) and Eawag (operation and maintenance).33 weeks ago
- Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small amphipathic molecules (10-50 amino acids) that are produced by all life forms, from prokaryotes to humans, and are involved in the protection of the host against infections. Fish AMPs have rapidly captured the attention as novel drug candidates in aquaculture thanks to their broad antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as fungi, parasites and viruses. In addition, their low propensity for the development of bacterial resistance makes AMPs a promising therapeutic alternative to the excessive and indiscriminate use of antibiotics in veterinary health. The molecular mechanism how AMPs exert their antimicrobial activity in fish cells is not fully understood. To overcome this lack of knowledge, we seek to identify the functional domains of AMPs in a rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) gut cell line (RTgutGC). To achieve this aim, we propose to utilize an episomal CRISPR-Cas9 system to genetically screen for such functional AMP domains. The resulting gene-edited cell lines will be challenged with bacterial pathogens, such as Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Yersinia ruckeri and the ability of these gene-edited cell lines to overcome the bacterial burden will be assessed. Moreover, a time-course transcriptome (RNA-seq) and proteome (mass spectrometry) analysis of RTgutGC cells that express AMPs upon exposure to synthetic bacterial molecules will be conducted. Taking together, these findings will give us the opportunity to shed light on the molecular mechanisms that drive the therapeutic effect of AMPs in fish cells and to gain a global view on the molecular pathways that are affected when AMPs are expressed.23 weeks ago
- **There is [an older version](https://doi.org/10.25678/000EKQ) of this dataset.** The “National monitoring programme for substance load in swiss watercourses” (NAWA-Fracht, formerly known as NADUF) program was initiated in 1972 as a cooperative project between three institutes: + [Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)](https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/en/home.html) + [Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG)](https://www.eawag.ch) + [Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)](https://www.wsl.ch/en.html) (since 2003) The following institutes participated later: + [Amt für Umwelt und Energie des Kantons Basel-Stadt (AUE)](https://www.aue.bs.ch) + [Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS)](https://www.metas.ch/metas/en/home.html) With the NAWA-Fracht program, the chemical-physical state of Swiss rivers as well as intermediate-term and long-term changes in concentration are observed. Furthermore, it provides data for scientific studies on biological, chemical and physical processes in river water. The NAWA-Fracht network serves as a basic data and sampling facility to evaluate the effectiveness of water protection measures and for various scientific projects. ### Data from 2023 to 2024 The physical data for the years 2023 and 2024 are provisional. Accordingly, the chemical data are not yet definitive.123 weeks ago
- Host-parasite interactions can cause strong demographic fluctuations accompanied by selective sweeps of resistance/infectivity alleles. Both demographic bottlenecks and frequent sweeps are expected to reduce the amount of segregating genetic variation and therefore might constrain adaption adaptation during coevolution. Recent studies, however, suggest that the interaction of demographic and selective processes is a key component of coevolutionary dynamics and may rather positively affect levels of genetic diversity available for adaptation. Here, we provide direct experimental testing of this hypothesis by disentangling the effect of demography, selection, and of their interaction in an experimental host-parasite system. We grew 12 populations of a unicellular, asexually reproducing algae (Chlorella variabilis) that experienced either growth followed by constant population sizes (3 populations), demographic fluctuations (3 populations), selection induced by exposure to a virus (3 populations), or demographic fluctuations together with virus-induced selection (3 populations). After 50 days (approximately 50 generations), we conducted whole-genome sequencing of each algal host population. We observed more genetic diversity in populations that jointly experienced selection and demographic fluctuations than in populations where these processes were experimentally separated. In addition, in those 3 populations that jointly experienced selection and demographic fluctuations, experimentally measured diversity exceeds expected values of diversity that account for the cultures’ population sizes. Our results suggest that eco-evolutionary feedbacks can positively affect genetic diversity and provide the necessary empirical measures to guide further improvements of theoretical models of adaptation during host-parasite coevolution.93 weeks ago
- Ozonation of natural waters is typically associated with the formation of carbonyl compounds (aldehydes, ketones and ketoacids), a main class of organic disinfection byproducts (DBPs). However, the detection of carbonyl compounds in water and wastewater is challenged by multiple difficulties inherent to their physicochemical properties. A non-target screening method involving the derivatisation of carbonyl compounds with p-toluenesulfonylhydrazine (TSH) followed by their analysis using liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionisation high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-HRMS) and an advanced non-target screening and data processing workflow was developed. The workflow was applied to investigate the formation of carbonyl compounds during ozonation of different water types including lake water, aqueous solutions containing Suwannee River Fulvic acid (SRFA), and wastewater. A higher sensitivity for most target carbonyl compounds was achieved compared to previous derivatisation methods. Moreover, the method allowed the identification of known and unknown carbonyl compounds. 8 out of 17 target carbonyl compounds were consistently detected above limits of quantification (LOQs) in most ozonated samples. Generally, the concentrations of the 8 detected target compounds decreased in the order: formaldehyde > acetaldehyde > glyoxylic acid > pyruvic acid > glutaraldehyde > 2,3-butanedione > glyoxal > 1-acetyl-1-cyclohexene. The DOC concentration-normalised formation of carbonyl compounds during ozonation was higher in wastewater and SRFA-containing water than in lake water. The specific ozone doses and the type of the dissolved organic matter (DOM) played a predominant role for the extent of formation of carbonyl compounds. Five formation trends were distinguished for different carbonyl compounds. Some compounds were produced continuously upon ozonation even at high ozone doses, while others reached a maximum concentration at a certain ozone dose above which they decreased. Concentrations of target and peak areas of non-target carbonyl compounds during full-scale ozonation at a wastewater treatment plant showed an increase as a function of the specific ozone dose (sum of 8 target compounds ∼ 280 µg/L at 1 mgO3/mgC), followed by a significant decrease after biological sand filtration (> 64–94% abatement for the different compounds). This highlights the biodegradability of target and non-target carbonyl compounds and the importance of biological post-treatment.23 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in November 2021 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW483 weeks ago
- The dreissenid quagga Dreissena bugensis and zebra D. polymorpha mussels are invasive freshwater mussels in Europe and North America. These species strongly impact aquatic ecosystems, such as the food web through their high abundance, filtration rate. They spread quickly within and between waterbodies, and have the ability to colonize various substrates and depths. The zebra mussel invaded and established in Swiss lakes in the 1960s, whereas the quagga mussel was not detected until 2014. We collected all available data from cantonal as well as local authorities and other institutions to describe the colonization pattern of quagga mussels in Switzerland. We also collected data regarding the distribution of larval stages of the mussels, the so-called veliger larvae. We observed that in lakes colonized by the quagga mussel, veligers are present the whole year round, whereas they are absent in winter in lakes with only zebra mussels. Additionally, we present detailed information about the invasion and colonization pattern of quagga mussels in Lake Constance. Quagga mussels colonized the lakeshore within a few years (~ 2016-2018) and outcompeted zebra mussels, and have reached densities > 5000 ind. m-2 in the littoral zone, even at 80 m densities above 1000 ind. m-2 were found at some locations. At the end of the article, we discussed possibilities on how the spread of quagga mussels within and among northern perialpine lakes should be monitored and prevented in the future.43 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in April 2022 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW123 weeks ago
- Oxygen loggers were deployed in the bottom waters of a few small lakes in Switzerland as a side-project of the small lake temperature monitoring project financed by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment. The main goal is to use both deep water oxygen concentration and thermal structure to study mixing and stratification processes.33 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in March 2023 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW213 weeks ago
- ## DOI not yet active - Publication under review This package contains images from camera traps to monitor streams for the presence of grey heron (Ardea cinerea). The six streams are located around lake Lucerne, each with 3 to 4 cameras. Folders indicate the stream and camera (e.g. GBU1, SBU3, etc.). This image dataset can be analyzed with the code pipeline given in Burkard, Y., Francazi, E., Lavender, E. J. N., Brodersen, J., Volpi, M., Baity Jesi, M., & Moor, H. (2024). Data for: Automated single species identification in camera trap images: architecture choice, training strategies, and the interpretation of performance metrics (Version 1.0). Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.25678/000DHT NOTE: Images containing humans have been removed from this dataset to enable publication. This was done after the analyses presented in Burkard et al. (https://doi.org/10.25678/000DHT), such that numbers of images given in the Appendix may not exactly match the numbers of images contained in this dataset.243 weeks ago
- Surface-associated microbial systems are hotspots for the spread of plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance, but how surface association affects plasmid transfer and proliferation remains unclear. Surface association enables prolonged spatial proximities between different populations, which promotes plasmid transfer between them. However, surface association also fosters strong metabolic interactions between different populations, which can direct their spatial self-organization with consequences for plasmid transfer and proliferation. Here, we hypothesize that metabolic interactions direct the spatial self-organization of different populations and, in turn, regulate the spread of plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance. We show that resource competition causes populations to spatially segregate, which represses plasmid transfer. In contrast, resource cross-feeding causes populations to spatially intermix, which promotes plasmid transfer. We further show that the spatial positionings that emerge from metabolic interactions determine the proliferation of plasmid recipients. Our results demonstrate that metabolic interactions are important regulators of both the transfer and proliferation plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance.163 weeks ago
- Host genotype may shape host-associated bacterial communities (commonly referred to as microbiomes). We sought to determine (a) whether bacterial communities vary among host genotypes in the water flea Daphnia galeata and (b) if this difference is driven by the genetic distance between host genotypes, by using D. galeata genotypes hatched from sediments of different time periods. We used 16S amplicon sequencing to profile the gut and body bacterial communities of eight D. galeata genotypes hatched from resting eggs; these were isolated from two distinct sediment layers (dating to 1989 and 2009) of a single sediment core of the lake Greifensee, and maintained in a common garden in laboratory cultures for five years. In general, bacterial community composition varied in both the Daphnia guts and bodies; but not between genotypes from different sediment layers. Specifically, genetic distances between host genotypes did not correlate with beta diversity of bacterial communities in Daphnia guts and bodies. Our results indicate that Daphnia bacterial community structure is to some extent determined by a host genetic component, but that genetic distances between hosts do not correlate with diverging bacterial communities.43 weeks ago
- In natural habitats, nutrient availability limits bacterial growth. We discovered that bacteria can overcome this limitation by acquiring nutrients by lysing neighboring cells through contact-dependent antagonism. Using single-cell live imaging and isotopic markers, we found that during starvation the type VI secretion system (T6SS) lysed neighboring cells and thus provided nutrients from lysing cells for growth. Genomic adaptations in antagonists, characterized by a reduced metabolic gene repertoire, and the previously unexplored distribution of the T6SS across bacterial taxa in natural environments suggest that bacterial antagonism may contribute to nutrient transfer within microbial communities in many ecosystems.643 weeks ago
- Socio-technical regimes are highly institutionalized rationalities that have co-evolved with actors, technologies and institutions over extended periods of time and become taken for granted across geographical contexts. Transition studies feature an extensive focus on regime dynamics within specific territorial contexts. However, we know surprisingly little of how regime rationalities are constructed, diffused and reproduced across space. This is a key gap in the geography of sustainability transitions literature. This paper introduces a conceptual model to analyze transformative opportunities in regions and how regime actors strategically diffuse and implement global regime solutions through combinations of discursive and substantive system reconfiguration activities. The empirical analysis draws upon a combination of Socio-Technical Configuration Analysis (STCA) of 354 newspaper articles and 10 in-depth expert interviews to illuminate how regime actors prevailed in diffusing and legitimizing the water sector's dominant socio-technical configuration in San Diego during a period of substantial transformative opportunities.23 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in May 2020 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW123 weeks ago
- Due to low investment and operational costs, chemical and energy independence, and a high potential to contribute to circular wastewater management practices, vermifiltration (VF) is a globally relevant wastewater treatment solution. In addition, VF is often considered a suitable domestic wastewater treatment solution for reclamation in agriculture. Despite its potential, insufficient knowledge of the full-scale performance and its ability to meet irrigation standards impede VF from being widely implemented. The presented data was collected from two full-scale vermifilters in Switzerland, treating black- and sedimented greywater in parallel, from November 2022 to August 2023. The research aims to determine the need for post-treatment of full-scale vermifilters, the impact of outdoor temperature and seasonality on the treatment performance, as well as the potential for reclamation in agriculture. In addition, the removal efficiencies of organics (BOD5, COD, TSS), nitrogen, phosphorus, fecal indicator bacteria, heavy metals, and organic micropollutants was also evaluated. The data is presented further the following publications: Coppens, K., Strande, L., & Stoll, S. (in press). Performance analysis and impact of operating conditions on the treatment capacity of two full-scale vermifilters. Journal of Environmental Management Coppens, K., Geyer, T., Monod, A., Strande, L., & Stoll, S. (2025). Evaluation of vermifilter-treated domestic wastewater for irrigation and fertigation: opportunities and challenges for implementation [Manuscript submitted for publication]. In the first publication, the operating conditions of both vermifilters are determined empirically for the first time since their commissioning. In addition, the removal efficiencies of organics, solids, nitrogen, and phosphorus are reported, and the role and need for post-treatment of the vermifilter effluents is evaluated. In the second publication, the feasibility of reclamation through irrigation and fertigation from the two vermifilters is analyzed by comparing the effluent quality to various irrigation standards. In addition, the removal efficiencies of metallic trace elements, E. Coli, and 15 organic micropollutants is evaluated. Both studies use the results to propose optimizations, and conclude that full-scale VF, when employing favorable design and operating conditions, is a relevant, reliable, and resilient wastewater treatment solution for both urban and rural areas worldwide.43 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in July 2020 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW173 weeks ago
- The currently applied approaches to estimate direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) from wastewater treatment (sector 5D) in the national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories of Switzerland are based on the IPCC guidelines. (IPCC 2006). A review of the Swiss application of guidelines showed that the guidelines are only partly representative for Switzerland. (Eawag 2018). Hence, an extended study was performed including extensive monitoring campaigns on Swiss wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), analysis of existing data sets and literature reviews. The present document summarizes the study and suggests an improved methodology for an assessment of the GHG emissions of sector 5D. N2O emission are drastically underestimated with the current methodology. Additionally, source allocation of emissions is not representative. Hence, we suggest a new methodology based on 17 long-term monitoring campaigns on full-scale WWTPs in Switzerland and an analysis of nitrogen flows in Swiss WWTPs. The decreasing N2O emissions since 1990 link to improvements of nitrogen removal rates on WWTPs. Further reductions are expected in the coming decades because of further planned improvements of nitrogen removal on Swiss WWTPs. Major uncertainties within the new methodology can be linked to the emission factor of WWTPs with carbon removal only. The occurrence of such plants decreased substantially between 1990 and 2020. CH4 emissions are overestimated with the current methodology. Additionally, source allocation of emissions is not representative. Hence, we propose a new methodology based on monitoring campaigns and a literature review. Emissions remained relatively stableincreased moderately since 1990 despite along with an increase in population and accompanied by due to technological improvements at the WWTPs (covering open sludge storage tanks). This data package contains long-term online monitoring data for three Swiss WWTPs over at least one year used for the methodology described above. The operators of one of the WWTP decided to stay anonymous (Carbon removal WWTP). Other monitoring campaigns are described unter the following doi: https://doi.org/10.25678/0003XE. The method to monitor the emissions is described under the following doi:https://doi.org/10.25678/0003WD.113 weeks ago
- Das Priorisierungskonzept zur Sanierung von künstlichen Fischwanderhindernissen beruht auf Fragmentierungsanalysen des Einzugsgebiets. Diese bieten einen Überblick über die für Fische zusammenhängenden Regionen im aktuellen und im natürlichen Zustand. Hindernisse, deren Sanierung die Vernetzung mit dem Hauptfluss verbessert oder grosse zusammenhängende Regionen verbindet, bringen einen besonders grossen potenziellen Gewinn für die Fischgemeinschaft.33 weeks ago
- Innovative online interfaces informing and consulting citizens about their preferences for multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) could make public decision-making more participatory. We propose a three-faceted learning for decision-making framework and used it to test newly-designed online weight elicitation interfaces. We investigated two features meant to enhance learning: fully-fledged gamification with a narrative, interaction with nonplayer characters, and ambient music, and learning loops (LL) using consistency checks of elicited weights and the challenge to resolve inconsistencies. We operationalized our framework with a novel systematic set of measure instruments providing complementary data types. We designed a 2 × 2 between-subject experiment with pre- and postquestionnaires. Answers from 769 respondents, representative of the Swiss population in age and gender, indicated that the interfaces successfully raised awareness about wastewater management. Gamification was helpful: respondents performed better in the factual learning test, and unexpected social learning occurred. However, gamification lowered the perception of process understanding. The LL were beneficial: objectively, respondents performed better in the factual learning test. However, respondents perceived the LL as cognitively demanding and their factual learning as lower. Our structured assessment highlighted the need for further research to investigate, for instance, high interpersonal variability and the disparities between tested and perceived learning. Measuring preference construction remains challenging; and social learning should be added to the assessment framework. Applying such structured assessment of learning outcomes to more traditional operational research interventions would provide a baseline for future comparison.23 weeks ago
- **Overview of the experiment** We conducted this experiment to collect a dataset of hyperspectral data-cubes of wastewater samples, along with reference laboratory analyses of various wastewater pollutants. The goal was to train data-driven models to predict pollution levels in a sample using hyperspectral data-cubes. Therefore, for ten days, we collected samples from four wastewater treatment facilities around Melbourne, Australia. The samples come from three urban wastewater treatment facilities and one stormwater treatment facility. We conducted the sampling between 04/08/2024 and 15/08/2024. Once sampled, we analysed wastewater in the laboratory for reference physical and chemical pollutants and acquired hyperspectral images. To extend the dataset, we also created a combination of stormwater and wastewater samples for which we measured a hyperspectral data-cube and some reference pollutants. This repository also includes background information about data pre-processing and validation. **Repository organization: How to use the data?** The repository is organized into numbered folders. Most folders contain a readme.md file in Markdown format, explaining their contents. All data are stored in non-proprietary formats: CSV for most files, except for hyperspectral acquisitions, which are in ENVI format (compatible with Python). Raw data are kept in their original format, sometimes lacking metadata such as units or column descriptions. This information is provided in the corresponding readme.md files. Pre-processed data, however, contain consistent column names, including units. Jupyter notebooks are included to pre-process and validate the data.33 weeks ago
- ## There is [a newer version](https://doi.org/10.25678/000CY7) of this dataset. **There is [an older version](https://doi.org/10.25678/00090X) of this dataset.** The “National Long-term Surveillance of Swiss Rivers” (NADUF) program was initiated in 1972 as a cooperative project between three institutes: + [Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)](https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/en/home.html) + [Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG)](https://www.eawag.ch) + [Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)](https://www.wsl.ch/en.html) (since 2003) The following institutes participated later: + [Amt für Umwelt und Energie des Kantons Basel-Stadt (AUE)](https://www.aue.bs.ch) + [Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS)](https://www.metas.ch/metas/en/home.html) With the NADUF program, the chemical-physical state of Swiss rivers as well as intermediate-term and long-term changes in concentration are observed. Furthermore, it provides data for scientific studies on biological, chemical and physical processes in river water. The NADUF network serves as a basic data and sampling facility to evaluate the effectiveness of water protection measures and for various scientific projects. ### Data from 2021 to 2022 The physical data for the years 2021 and 2022 are provisional. Accordingly, the chemical data are not yet definitive.123 weeks ago
- ## There is [a newer version](https://doi.org/10.25678/000EKQ) of this dataset. **There is [an older version](https://doi.org/10.25678/000C7N) of this dataset.** The “National Long-term Surveillance of Swiss Rivers” (NADUF) program was initiated in 1972 as a cooperative project between three institutes: + [Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)](https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/en/home.html) + [Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG)](https://www.eawag.ch) + [Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)](https://www.wsl.ch/en.html) (since 2003) The following institutes participated later: + [Amt für Umwelt und Energie des Kantons Basel-Stadt (AUE)](https://www.aue.bs.ch) + [Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS)](https://www.metas.ch/metas/en/home.html) With the NADUF program, the chemical-physical state of Swiss rivers as well as intermediate-term and long-term changes in concentration are observed. Furthermore, it provides data for scientific studies on biological, chemical and physical processes in river water. The NADUF network serves as a basic data and sampling facility to evaluate the effectiveness of water protection measures and for various scientific projects. ### Data from 2021 to 2023 The physical data for the years 2021 and 2023 are provisional. Accordingly, the chemical data are not yet definitive.123 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in May 2022 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW133 weeks ago
- This critical review analyzed 118 articles applying multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) to environmental problems that were published in operational research (OR) journals. Main aim was to evaluate whether OR research is adequately treating real-world decision processes. Research questions emerged from analyzing 34 review articles covering mainly environmental literature. In contrast to this applied literature, results indicate that the field of OR is strong in uncertainty treatment. However, advanced modelling and analysis of temporal or spatial aspects was rare. Documentation of MCDA processes was often sketchy. Stakeholder engagement throughout decision-making processes was low. Main steps of MCDA were neglected, ranging from problem structuring, over preference elicitation, to discussing results with stakeholders. Future OR research could contribute substantially to solving todays’ pressing environmental problems by (i) improving applications to real-world decision processes; (ii) developing methods of stakeholder engagement and integrating soft-OR methods; (iii) applying behavioral OR for analyzing decision processes; (iv) supporting real-world implementation after MCDA; and (v) linking efforts across disciplines for proper documentation of practice interventions.63 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in August 2018 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targetting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targetting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW123 weeks ago
- As the importance of fecal sludge management (FSM) is increasingly being realized, the need for adequately designed and functioning fecal sludge (FS) treatment plants is also increasing. Research to fill this gap is only emerging and dewatering is a key challenge for developing sustainable treatment solutions. This study evaluated the effect of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on dewaterability of FS, and how EPS and dewaterability change during anaerobic storage (as a proxy for time in onsite containment). EPS was extracted from FS and activated sludge using Na2CO3 and sonication and added to sludge samples to determine the effect on dewaterability. The results confirmed that an increase in EPS had a direct impact of decreasing FS dewaterability (as capillary suction time). In this context, we evaluated FS degradation during anaerobic storage, the effect of anaerobic storage time on EPS, EPS fractions and particle size distribution, and the effect of variations in these factors on FS dewaterability. Variations in EPS, EPS fraction and particle size distribution during anaerobic storage were less than expected and average VS reduction of 20 % was recorded over 7 weeks. Although anaerobic digestion was verified (biogas production), the results indicate that kinetics of degradation of FS is different from wastewater sludges. Comparatively, EPS fractions in FS were 70 – 75 % lower and with higher fractions of humic-like substances than wastewater sludges. Although EPS significantly affects FS dewaterability, anaerobic storage time is not a predictor of dewaterability.163 weeks ago
- Invasive species have far-reaching consequences for whole ecosystems. In particular, filter feeders such as zebra and quagga mussels have a huge impact on lake ecosystems by filtering out resources that are otherwise used by native filter feeders. Quagga mussels can colonise deeper parts of a lake while zebra mussels prefer shallow areas. Both species show large variability in shell morphology, but only quagga mussels show a shallow and deep morphotype. The aim of this study is to investigate the depth adaptation of both dreissenid species. We hypothesize potential advantages of the quagga mussel over the zebra mussel with regard to feeding. We conducted common garden experiments, where we measured filtration rates at different temperatures (4, 12, and 20 °C) of quagga mussels collected from different water depths (1, 30, and 60 m) and compared them to zebra mussel from 1m depth. We found filtration rates to be strongly temperature dependent, and in particular, lower at 4 °C. Overall, zebra mussels fed less than quagga mussels taken from the same water depth. Quagga mussels collected from 1 m depth fed more at higher temperature than quaggas from 30 and 60 m depth. We hypothesize that deep-water mussels are less sensitive to lower temperature and have a higher temperature threshold to increase their filtration. Otherwise, filtration rates were independent of the depth of origin of the mussels. Our results indicate that zebra mussels are less competitive filter feeders compared to quagga mussels and quagga mussels are not locally adapted with regard to their feeding. Rather, quagga mussels are better accustomed to a wider range of temperatures in shallow water.33 weeks ago
- Due to their extensive use and high biological activity, insecticides largely contribute to loss of biodiversity as well as environmental pollution. The regulation of insecticides mainly relies on lethal concentrations, however, also sub-lethal effects such as alterations in behavior and neurodevelopment can significantly affect fitness of the individual and population dynamics and therefore need consideration. Moreover, it is important to understand the impact of exposure timing during development, which currently lacks relevant knowledge. Here, we investigated whether there are periods during neurodevelopment of fish, which are particularly vulnerable to insecticide exposure. Therefore, we exposed zebrafish embryos to six different insecticides with a cholinergic mode of action for 24 hours during different periods of neurodevelopment and measured locomotor output using an age-matched behavior assay. We used the organophosphates diazinon and dimethoate, the carbamates pirimicarb and methomyl as well as the neonicotinoids thiacloprid and imidacloprid because they are abundant in the environment and cholinergic signaling plays a major role during key processes of neurodevelopment. We found that early embryonic motor behaviors, as measured by spontaneous tail coiling, increased upon exposure to most insecticides, while later movements, measured through touch-evoked response and light-dark transition assay, rather decreased for the same insecticides and exposure duration. Moreover, the observed effects were more pronounced when the exposure windows were temporally closer to the performing of the respective behavioral assay. However, the measured effects recovered after a short period, indicating that none of the exposure windows chosen here are particularly critical, but rather that insecticides acutely interfere with neuronal function at all stages as long as they are present. Overall, our results contribute to a better understanding of the risks posed by cholinergic insecticides to fish and provide an important basis for the development of safe regulations to improve environmental health.63 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in August 2019 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW183 weeks ago
- This data package contains a variant call format file (vcf) of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for *Daphnia galeata* clones resurrected from sediment cores from Lake Greifensee. See README.md for more information43 weeks ago
- Automated explorations of chemical reaction networks (CRNs) guided by quantum chemistry (QC) calculations are undergoing rapid development that enables numerous applications. However, CRNs are accessible primarily through specialized quantum chemistry software without interface for cheminformatic exploitation of the generated data. Here, we present VizChemoton, an open-source module within the reaction exploration framework Software for Chemical Interaction Networks. VizChemoton enables visualization of CRNs and serves as an interface for cheminformatics applications based on conversion of molecular structures that accounts for radicals, zwitterions, and molecular complexes into string-based representations via RDKit mol objects. The conversion performance exceeded 90% of QC-generated compounds based on the evaluation of four CRNs constructed with density functional theory and extended tight-binding methods. We find that compounds absent from public structural databases correspond primarily to molecular complexes and unstable reaction intermediates. All essential QC and associated cheminformatics data are distributed in interoperable CSV and JSON formats to support downstream machine learning applications whereas reaction networks are readily visualized through a browser-based standalone HTML interface.73 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in December 2018 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targetting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targetting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW93 weeks ago
- Serious games, gamification, or game-based interventions are increasingly used as tools to aid participatory decision-making processes, but their evaluation is often not very rigorous. Therefore, it is still unclear whether game-based interventions are really beneficial. We focused on the following overarching question: how effective are game-based interventions specifically designed to support decision-making processes. We used an illustrative case to reflect on this question. Using a published framework proposing that design processes of game-based interventions and their evaluation are intertwined, we designed simultaneously (1) a game-based intervention, specifically a card game and a workshop structure in which this card game is to be used, and (2) its evaluation procedure, formulating evaluation questions and proposing measure instruments based on the literature. We pre-tested the evaluation procedure in a small pilot study with 10 students. We illustrate the use of the design framework for an intervention to generate objectives in a decision-making process about sustainable wastewater management. Through our illustrative case, we identify future research opportunities about designing game-based interventions and evaluating their effectiveness. We found that it is possible to address the dual challenge of game-based interventions for participatory decision-making processes: (1) designing an informative and engaging game-based intervention without telling participants what to think and (2) designing a tailored evaluation procedure. Designing the game-based intervention and its evaluation simultaneously is valuable, because both are strongly intertwined. However, conducting the evaluation is demanding and requires the collaborative efforts of scientists, including across disciplinary boundaries. For instance, the data collection effort could be distributed among different research groups to increase sample size. This would allow including control treatment(s) and covering the variation span of the confounding factors more broadly. All material is made openly available to foster collaborative future research.53 weeks ago
- The acceleration of global change draws increasing attention towards synergistic effects of temperature and organic contaminants. Many studies reported a higher sensitivity of aquatic invertebrates towards contaminant exposure with increasing or fluctuating temperature. The hypothesis of this study was that the higher sensitivity of invertebrates is associated to changes of toxicokinetic processes that determine internal concentrations of contaminants and consequently toxic effects. Therefore, the influence of temperature on toxicokinetic processes and the underlying mechanisms were studied in two key amphipod species. Bioconcentration experiments were carried out at four different temperatures with a mixture of 12 exposure relevant polar organic contaminants. Tissue and medium samples were taken in regular intervals and analysed by online solid phase extraction liquid chromatography high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry. Subsequently, toxicokinetic rates were modelled and analysed in dependence of the exposure temperature using the Arrhenius equation. A positive exponential relationship between toxicokinetic rates versus temperature was observed and could be well depicted by applying the Arrhenius equation. Due to a similar Arrhenius temperature of uptake and elimination rates, the bioconcentration factors of the contaminants were constant across the temperature range. Further, the Arrhenius temperature of the toxicokinetic rates and respiration was mostly similar. However, in some cases (citalopram, cyprodinil) the bioconcentration factor appeared to be temperature dependent, which could potentially be explained by the influence of temperature on active uptake mechanisms or biotransformation. The observed temperature effects on toxicokinetics may especially be relevant in non-equilibrated systems, such as exposure peaks in summer as exemplified by the exposure modelling of a real-world pesticide peak where the internal concentrations increased by up to fourfold along the temperature gradient. The results provide novel insights into the mechanisms of chemical uptake, biotransformation, and elimination in different climate scenarios and can improve risk assessment.33 weeks ago
- Genomic diversity is associated with the adaptive potential of a population and thereby impacts the extinction risk of a species during environmental change. However, empirical data on genomic diversity of populations before environmental perturbations are rare and hence our understanding on the impact of perturbation on diversity are often limited. We here assess genomic diversity utilising whole-genome resequencing data from all four species of the Lake Constance Alpine whitefish radiation. Our data covers a period of strong but transient anthropogenic environmental change and permits to track changes in genomic diversity in all species over time. Genomic diversity became strongly reduced during the period of anthropogenic disturbance and has not recovered yet. The decrease in genomic diversity varies between 18-30%, depending on the species. Interspecific allele frequency differences of SNPs located in potentially ecologically relevant genes were homogenized over time. This suggests that in addition to the reduction of genome wide genetic variation, differentiation that evolved in the process of adaptation to alternative ecologies between species might have been lost during ecological disturbance. The erosion of substantial amounts of genomic variation within just a few generations in combination with the loss of potentially adaptive genomic differentiation, both of which had evolved over thousands of years, demonstrates the sensitivity of biodiversity in evolutionary young adaptive radiations towards environmental disturbance. Natural history collections, such as the one used for this study, are instrumental for the assessment of genomic consequences of anthropogenic environmental change. Historical samples enable us to document biodiversity loss against the shifting baseline syndrome and advance our understanding of the needs for efficient biodiversity conservation on a global scale.73 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in September 2018 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targetting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targetting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW93 weeks ago
- A key step in the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from organic waste streams is the selection of a biomass with a high PHA-storage capacity (selection-step), which is usually performed in sequencing batch reactor (SBR) according to the state-of-the-art. When using municipal wastewater (MWW)-derived feedstock, a major challenge is however to perform the selection-step in continuous reactors. The present study therefore investigates to what extent a simple continuous-flow stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) represents a relevant alternative to an aerobic feast-famine SBR for the selection of PHA-storing biomass. To this end, we operated two selection reactors (CSTR vs. SBR) on filtered primary sludge fermentate while performing a detailed analysis of the microbial communities and monitoring PHA-storage over long-term (~150 days) and during accumulation batches. Our study demonstrates that a simple CSTR is as effective as an SBR in selecting biomass with high PHA-storage capacity (up to 0.65 gPHA gVSS-1) while being 50% more efficient in terms of substrate to biomass conversion yields. We also demonstrated that such selection can occur in excess of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), whereas previously P limitation was the only known factor giving a competitive advantage to PHA-storing organisms in a single CSTR. At the same time, we found that nutrient availability is more critical for microbial competition than reactor operation mode (CSTR vs. SBR). Indeed, similar microbial communities developed in both selection reactors, while microbial communities were very different depending on N availability. Rhodobacteraceae gen. were most abundant when growth conditions were stable and N-limited, whereas dynamic N-(and P-)excess conditions favoured the selection of the known PHA-storer Comamonas, and led to the highest observed PHA-storage capacity. Overall, we demonstrate biomass with high storage capacity can be selected in a simple CSTR on a wider range of feedstock than only P-limited ones.23 weeks ago
- Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assays for detection of Vibrio cholerae O1 and O139 serogroups markers, ompW, O1rfb, O139rfb using fluorescence signal monitoring63 weeks ago
- Zooplankton-associated microbiomes play an important role for host health and contribute to ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling. Yet, few studies have assessed how environmental gradients and biotic interactions, including parasitism and diet, may shape the microbiome composition of wild zooplankton. Here, we analysed the microbiomes of water fleas from the Daphnia longispina species complex using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and a long-term field dataset spanning six sampling events over 13 years. Sampling coincided with outbreaks of the virulent eukaryotic gut parasite Caullerya mesnili. Additionally, we explored how microbiome structure varied in relation to water parameters, phytoplankton density (i.e. Daphnia diet), and zooplankton density and community structure. Daphnia microbiomes displayed strong temporal variation, and comparatively small differences based on host infection status. Microbiome beta diversity correlated with phytoplankton density but not with its community composition, including green algae, protists and cyanobacteria. Environmental conditions, including temperature, dissolved oxygen and cyanobacterial abundance - previously found to drive Caullerya epidemics - were also associated with distinct microbiome structures. Importantly, microbiome beta diversity co-varied with infection prevalence, suggesting a link between microbiome shifts, epidemic size, and environmental conditions driving large epidemics. Dominant bacterial taxa correlated with Daphnia density, whereas the phylogenetic composition of rare taxa was associated with total zooplankton density. These findings demonstrate the dynamic nature of Daphnia microbiomes and suggest potential mechanisms by which they may mediate disease dynamics, particularly through associations with diet quantity, temperature, and host population density.33 weeks ago
- Agricultural pesticides transported to surface waters pose a major risk for aquatic ecosystems. Modelling studies indicate that the inlets of agricultural storm drainage systems can considerably increase the connectivity of surface runoff and pesticides to surface waters. These model results have however not yet been validated with field measurements. In this study, we measured discharge and concentrations of 51 pesticides in four out of 158 storm drainage inlets of a small Swiss agricultural catchment (2.8 km2) and in the receiving stream. For this, we performed an event-triggered sampling during 19 rain events. and collected plot-specific pesticide application data. Our results show that agricultural storm drainage inlets strongly influence surface runoff and pesticide transport in the study catchment. The concentrations of single pesticides in inlets amounted up to 62 µg/L. During some rain events, transport through single inlets caused more than 10% of the stream load of certain pesticides. An extrapolation to the entire catchment suggests that during selected events on average 30% to 70% of the load in the stream was transported through inlets. Pesticide applications on fields with surface runoff or spray drift potential to inlets led to increased concentrations in the corresponding inlets. Overall, this study corroborates the relevance of such inlets for pesticide transport by establishing a connectivity between fields and surface waters, and by their potential to deliver substantial pesticide loads to surface waters.73 weeks ago
- Data for the Published Manuscript: Tang et al. (2025) Modelling exposure to aerosols from showers: implications for microbial risk assessment. Building and Environment. DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.112825 Abstract from the publication: Inhalation of aerosols produced during showering exposes people to chemical and microbial contaminants present in the water. To improve quantitative estimates of exposure and to inform the efficacy of potential interventions to reduce exposures, the number and size distributions of aerosols generated during showering events were monitored and a mass balance model of the generated aerosols was developed. The aerosol generation rates were calculated through calibrating the model with the measured aerosol data. Specifically, aerosol count concentrations and size distributions were measured with an aerodynamic particle sizer over the duration of mock showering events under various conditions, including different water temperatures and different showerhead types (conventional and rain showers). The empirical data were then used to fit a mass balance model to obtain aerosol generation rates and decay rates for each aerosol size class through least square fitting. An initial high peak concentration of aerosols was observed under hot water conditions relative to cold water conditions which resulted in a rapid increase in aerosol exposure during the first 1-2 minutes of showering. This suggests that people showering in hot water conditions will have a potentially increased exposure during the first 1-2 minutes. The model-fitted values suggest large inter-experiment variation in estimated aerosol generation and decay rates, even among triplicates of the same showering conditions. Current exposure assessment approaches assume constant aerosol concentrations during showers which might lead to miscalculated cumulative risk for microbial hazards because of their uneven distribution in building plumbing systems and biofilm detachment process during flushing. Thus, considering aerosol dynamics is beneficial during shower exposure assessments to inform risk management interventions. The data set and associated modeling results provided can support this, as they can be readily integrated into microbial risk assessments for waterborne pathogens such as Legionella spp., nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This package provides all primary data for aerosol concentrations and environmental conditions measured at different conditions that can be used to generate figures and tables included in this publication.43 weeks ago
- **There is [a newer version](https://doi.org/10.25678/000FED) of this dataset.** **There is [an older version](https://doi.org/10.25678/000CY7) of this dataset.** The “National monitoring programme for substance load in swiss watercourses” (NAWA-Fracht, formerly known as NADUF) program was initiated in 1972 as a cooperative project between three institutes: + [Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)](https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/en/home.html) + [Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG)](https://www.eawag.ch) + [Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)](https://www.wsl.ch/en.html) (since 2003) The following institutes participated later: + [Amt für Umwelt und Energie des Kantons Basel-Stadt (AUE)](https://www.aue.bs.ch) + [Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS)](https://www.metas.ch/metas/en/home.html) With the NAWA-Fracht program, the chemical-physical state of Swiss rivers as well as intermediate-term and long-term changes in concentration are observed. Furthermore, it provides data for scientific studies on biological, chemical and physical processes in river water. The NAWA-Fracht network serves as a basic data and sampling facility to evaluate the effectiveness of water protection measures and for various scientific projects. ### Data from 2021 to 2024 The physical data for the years 2021 and 2024 are provisional. Accordingly, the chemical data are not yet definitive.123 weeks ago
- Understanding how the performance of blue-green infrastructure (BGI), nature-based stormwater management systems such as bioretention cells and green roofs, evolves is essential to sustaining their hydrological function. However, traditional monitoring approaches typically compare BGI performance using rainfall events classified as similar based solely on total depth, which can obscure subtle differences in hydrological performance. This study presents a workflow that improves temporal assessment by (i) identifying statistically similar rainfall events across periods using rainfall characteristics such as intensity, duration, and peaking time, and (ii) analysing hydrological response using both volume- and time-based metrics. We evaluated the workflow under controlled but synthetic conditions using simulations of bioretention systems with underdrains. Two Swiss case studies (Kloten and Bern) were used to represent rainfall-only and mixed inflow BGI configurations, respectively. Results show that isolating temporally similar rainfall events reduces variability compared with volume-based grouping, enabling more reliable detection of performance change. Among the performance metrics tested, the volume-based indicator proved more robust, detecting temporal differences in 16–38 matched rainfall–response pairs for the two configurations. In the mixed inflow system, additional runoff increased variability, but the workflow still detected a consistent performance change over time. In contrast, time-based metrics such as P-UF lag and centroid shift required substantially larger samples to achieve comparable statistical power. These findings demonstrate the workflow’s value as a proof-of-concept for designing efficient BGI monitoring programmes. Applications to other BGI types, climatic regimes, and extended datasets remain future work.23 weeks ago
- A key step in the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from organic waste streams is the selection of a biomass with a high PHA-storage capacity (selection-step), which is usually performed in sequencing batch reactor (SBR) according to the state-of-the-art. When using municipal wastewater (MWW)-derived feedstock, a major challenge is however to perform the selection-step in continuous reactors. The present study therefore investigates to what extent a simple continuous-flow stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) represents a relevant alternative to an aerobic feast-famine SBR for the selection of PHA-storing biomass. To this end, we operated two selection reactors (CSTR vs. SBR) on filtered primary sludge fermentate while performing a detailed analysis of the microbial communities and monitoring PHA-storage over long-term (~150 days) and during accumulation batches. Our study demonstrates that a simple CSTR is as effective as an SBR in selecting biomass with high PHA-storage capacity (up to 0.65 gPHA gVSS-1) while being 50% more efficient in terms of substrate to biomass conversion yields. We also demonstrated that such selection can occur in excess of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), whereas previously P limitation was the only known factor giving a competitive advantage to PHA-storing organisms in a single CSTR. At the same time, we found that nutrient availability is more critical for microbial competition than reactor operation mode (CSTR vs. SBR). Indeed, similar microbial communities developed in both selection reactors, while microbial communities were very different depending on N availability. Rhodobacteraceae gen. were most abundant when growth conditions were stable and N-limited, whereas dynamic N-(and P-)excess conditions favoured the selection of the known PHA-storer Comamonas, and led to the highest observed PHA-storage capacity. Overall, we demonstrate biomass with high storage capacity can be selected in a simple CSTR on a wider range of feedstock than only P-limited ones.23 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in September 2022 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW123 weeks ago
- Quagga and zebra mussels (Dreissena bugensis and D. polymorpha) are highly invasive freshwater mussels in Europe and North America. To better understand the colonization pattern of dreissenids in deep lakes, we studied the settlement of dreissenids along a depth gradient on colonization plates at multiple depths (1-140 m) in the pelagic zone of two recently invaded perialpine lakes—Lake Constance and Lake Geneva. We measured colonization rates every three months over one year on colonization plates deployed in the lake at defined depths. We also assessed long-term population dynamics like abundance and size distribution using photogrammetry of colonization plates. The community of colonising mussels was dominated by quagga mussels with the highest colonization rates and largest sizes occurring above 8 m depth. Colonization rates decreased to almost zero below 30 m. Colonization rates were controlled by variation in environmental conditions and veliger densities across season and depth. Temperature was the most important environmental parameter that influences the colonization. Our results will help to better understand the colonization patterns of invasive quagga mussels in deep lakes.33 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in May 2018 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW93 weeks ago
- Poor and unpredictable dewatering performance of fecal sludge is a major barrier to sanitation provision in urban areas not served by sewers. Fecal sludge comprises everything that accumulates in onsite containments, and its characteristics are distinct from wastewater sludges and from feces. There is little fundamental understanding of what causes poor dewatering in fecal sludge. For the first time, we demonstrate that particle size distribution is a driver of dewatering performance in fecal sludge, and is associated with level of stabilization. Higher concentrations of small particles (<10 µm) and smaller median aggregate size (D50) corresponded to poor dewatering performance (measured by capillary suction time (CST) and supernatant turbidity) in field samples from Kenya and Uganda and in controlled laboratory anaerobic storage experiments. More stabilized fecal sludge (higher C/N, lower VSS/TSS) had better dewatering performance, corresponding to lower concentrations of small particles. Samples with the largest aggregates (D50 > 90 µm) had higher abundance of Gammaproteobacteria Pseudomonas, and samples with the smallest aggregates (D50 ≤ 50 µm) were characterized by higher abundance of Bacteroidetes Vadin HA17 and Rikenellaceae. Contrary to common perceptions, stabilization, particle size distribution, and dewatering performance were not dependent on time intervals between emptying of onsite containments or on time in controlled anaerobic storage experiments. Our results suggest that the stabilization process in onsite containments, and hence the dewaterability of sludge arriving at treatment facilities, is not dependent on time in containment but is more likely associated with specific microbial populations and the in-situ environmental conditions which promote or discourage their growth.93 weeks ago
- Gravity-driven membrane (GDM) filtration is a strategic alternative to conventional ultrafiltration (UF) for the resilient production of drinking water via ultrafiltration when resources become scarce, given the low dependency on energy and chemicals, and longer membrane lifetime. Implementation at large scale requires the use of compact and low costs membrane modules with high biopolymer removal capacity. We therefore evaluated (1) to what extent stable flux can be obtained with compact membrane modules, i.e., inside-out hollow fiber membranes, and frequent gravity-driven backwash, (2) if we can successfully utilize second-life UF modules to reduce membrane expenses, (3) if biopolymer removal could be maintained when applying a frequent backwash and with second-life modules and (4) which GDM filtration scenarios are economically viable compared to conventional UF, when considering the influence of new or second-life modules, membrane lifetime, stable flux value and energy pricing. Our findings showed that it was possible to maintain stable fluxes around 10 L/m2/h with both new and second-life modules for 142 days, but a daily gravity-driven backwash was necessary to compensate the continuous flux drop observed with compact modules. In addition, the backwash didn’t affect the biopolymer removal. Costs calculations revealed two significant findings: (1) using second-life modules made GDM filtration less expensive than conventional UF and (2) GDM filtration's overall costs were unaffected by energy prices rise, while conventional UF costs rose significantly, increasing the number of economically viable GDM filtration scenarios. In summary, we proposed an approach that could make GDM filtration in centralized facilities feasible.23 weeks ago
- The elicitation and quantification of preferences of individuals or aggregated preferences of stakeholders or samples of the population are crucial for decision support. This can be done by statistically evaluating the results of discrete choice inquiries using a parameterized value function. When doing this with Bayesian inference, the specification of a prior can be challenging as it may be difficult to find similar cases to transfer knowledge. This makes it particularly important to be informed about the sensitivity of the results to the choice of the prior. This can be done by computing posteriors for different plausible priors and analyzing differences between them. This is infeasible for a large number of priors. This paper proposes the application of Density Ratio Classes, which sandwich non-normalized prior densities between specified lower and upper functional bounds. In this study, differences among posteriors resulting from priors in such a class are analyzed by comparing marginal posterior credible intervals. We compute ``outer” credible intervals that range from the minimum of all lower bounds to the maximum of all upper bounds of marginal posterior credible intervals with the same quantile bounds resulting from the priors in the density ratio class. The methodology is easy to implement and only requires one Markov chain of the posterior resulting from the upper function. We provide an R package "DRclass" that supports such implementations. Theoretical considerations and three case studies provide illustration and guidance about constructing the prior density ratio class.23 weeks ago
- In 2021, the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) tasked Eawag to deploy temperature monitoring stations in several lakes in view of a Swiss-wide temperature monitoring network. The monitoring station in Lake Hallwil (Canton Aargau) was introduced in July 2022 and it was operated until the end of 2024 by FOEN (financing) and Eawag (operation and maintenance). It consists of a thermistor chain with higher vertical resolution close to the surface. At the end of 2024, the measurement station was transferred from FOEN to Canton Aargau. Since January 2025, the measurement station is operated jointly by Canton Aargau (financing), FOEN (financial contribution to data processing and server infrastructure) and Eawag (operation and maintenance).33 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in January 2021 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW93 weeks ago
- Spray drift is considered a major pesticide transport pathway to surface waters. Current research and legislation usually only considers direct spray drift. However, also spray drift on roads and subsequent wash-off to surface waters was identified as a possible transport pathway. Hydraulic shortcuts (storm drainage inlets, channel drains, ditches) have been shown to connect roads to surface waters, thus increasing the risk of drift wash-off to surface waters. However, the importance of this pathway has never been assessed on larger scales. To address this knowledge gap, we studied 26 agricultural catchments with a predominance of arable cropping (n = 17) and vineyards (n = 9). In these study sites, we assessed the occurrence of shortcuts by field mapping. Afterwards, we modelled the areas of roads drained to surface waters using a high-resolution digital elevation model (0.5 m resolution) and a multiple flow algorithm. Finally, we modelled drift deposition to drained roads and surface waters using a spatially explicit, georeferenced spray drift model. Our results show that for most sites, the drift to drained roads is much larger than the direct drift to surface waters. In arable land sites, drift to roads exceeds the direct drift by a factor of 4.5 to 18, and in vineyard sites by 35 to 140. In arable land sites, drift to drained roads is rather small (0.0015% to 0.0049% of applied amount) compared to typical total pesticide losses to surface waters. However, substantial drift to drained roads in vineyard sites was found (0.063% to 0.20% of applied amount). Current literature suggests that major fractions of the drift deposited on roads can be washed off during rain events, especially for pesticides with low soil adsorption coefficients. For such pesticides and particularly in vineyards, spray drift wash-off from drained roads is therefore expected to be a major transport pathway to surface waters.43 weeks ago
- Organic contaminants enter aquatic ecosystems from various sources, including wastewater treatment plant effluent. Freshwater biofilms play a major role in the removal of organic contaminants from receiving water bodies, but knowledge of the molecular mechanisms driving contaminant biotransformations in complex stream biofilm (periphyton) communities remains limited. Previously, we demonstrated that biofilms in experimental flume systems grown at higher ratios of treated wastewater (WW) to stream water displayed an increased biotransformation potential for a number of organic contaminants. We identified a positive correlation between WW percentage and biofilm biotransformation rates for the widely-used insect repellent, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) and a number of other wastewater-borne contaminants with hydrolyzable moieties. Here, we conducted deep shotgun sequencing of flume biofilms and identified a positive correlation between WW percentage and metagenomic read abundances of DEET hydrolase (DH) homologs. To test the causality of this association, we constructed a targeted metagenomic library of DH homologs from flume biofilms. We screened our complete metagenomic library for activity with four different substrates, including DEET, and a subset thereof with 183 WW-related organic compounds. The majority of active hydrolases in the metagenomic library preferred aliphatic and aromatic ester substrates while, remarkably, only a single reference enzyme was capable of DEET hydrolysis. Of the 626 total enzyme-substrate combinations tested, approximately 5% were active enzyme-substrate pairs. Metagenomic DH family homologs revealed a broad substrate promiscuity spanning 22 different compounds when summed across all enzymes tested. We biochemically characterized the most promiscuous and active enzymes identified based on metagenomic analysis from uncultivated Rhodospirillaceae and Planctomycetaceae. In addition to characterizing new DH family enzymes, we exemplified a framework for linking metagenome-guided hypothesis generation with experimental validation. Overall, this study expands the scope of known enzymatic contaminant biotransformations for metagenomic hydrolases from WW-receiving stream biofilm communities.53 weeks ago
- This package provides the raw data supplied alongside the article: Andreas Froemelt, Leon Zueger, Luzia von Kaenel, Daniel Braun, Wenzel Gruber: "Pattern recognition of operational states leading to N2O-emissions in full-scale biological wastewater treatment", Water Research X, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wroa.2025.100336. Please cite this article when using the data. The dataset encompasses hourly operating data and N2O emissions of lane 2 of ARA Hofen (ARA = Water Resource Recovery Facility) for three full years (January 2020 to December 2022).33 weeks ago
- Protected agriculture boosts the production of vegetables, berries and fruits, and it plays a pivotal role in guaranteeing food security globally in the face of climate change. Remote sensing is proven to be useful for identifying the presence of (low-tech) plastic greenhouses and plastic mulches. However, the classification accuracy notoriously decreases in the presence of small-scale farming, heterogeneous land cover and unaccounted seasonal management of protected agriculture. Here, we present the random forest-based pixel-level Open field and Protected Agriculture land cover Classifier (OPAC) developed using Sentinel-2 L2A data. OPAC is trained using tiles from Switzerland over 2 years and the Almeria region in Spain over 1 acquisition day. OPAC classifies eight land covers typical of open field and protected agriculture (plastic mulches, low-tech greenhouses and for the first time high-tech greenhouses). Finally, we assess (1) how the land covers in OPAC are labelled in the Sentinel-2 Scene Classification Layer (SCL) and (2) the correspondence between pixels classified as protected agriculture by OPAC and by the best performing Advanced Plastic Greenhouse Index (APGI). To reduce anthropogenic land covers, we constrain the classification task to agricultural areas retrieved from cadastral data or the Corine Land Cover map. The 5-fold cross-validation reveals an overall accuracy of 92% but other classification scores are moderate when keeping the separation among the three classes of protected agriculture. However, all scores substantially improve upon grouping the three classes into one (with an Intersection Over Union of 0.58 as an average among the scores of the three classes and of 0.98 for one single class). Given the recently acknowledged importance of Sentinel-2 Band 1 (central wavelength of 443 nm), the classification accuracy of OPAC for the Swiss small-scale farming is mostly limited by the band's reduced spatial accuracy (60 m). A careful visual assessment indicates that OPAC achieves satisfactory generalization capabilities also in North European (the Netherlands) and four Mediterranean areas (Spain, Italy, Crete and Turkey) without the need of adding location and temporal specific information. There is good agreement among natural land covers classified by OPAC and the SCL. However, the SCL does not have a class for protected agriculture, the latter being often classified as clouds. APGI achieved similar to lower classification accuracies than OPAC. Importantly, the APGI classification task depends on a user-defined space- and time-specific threshold, whereas OPAC does not. Therefore, OPAC paves the way for rapid mapping of protected agriculture at continental scale.83 weeks ago
- Straw burning causes serious air pollution and environmental degradation. Nevertheless, it remains the dominant straw management method in Punjab, India, probably because alternative methods are more expensive. We investigated why some smallholders are nonetheless motivated to non-burning. Following Value-Belief-Norm theory, we tested whether personal norms, rooted in values and beliefs, explain intentions of non-burning. We conducted 177 questionnaire-based face-to-face interviews with Punjabi smallholders. As values are understudied in such samples, we first examined participants’ value orientations. While biospheric and altruistic value items formed a single value orientation representing self-transcendence values, egoistic and hedonic value items neither formed separate value orientations nor a single one representing self-enhancement values. As expected, personal norms explained intentions of non-burning. Partly supporting Value-Belief-Norm theory, stronger self-transcendence values were associated with heightened awareness of straw burning’s negative consequences and, in turn, stronger personal norms. Unexpectedly, smallholders’ belief that by non-burning they could help reduce negative consequences to the environment and others (i.e. outcome efficacy) was negatively associated with self-transcendence values, and only weakly positively with personal norms. Since personal norms, rooted in self-transcendence values and beliefs, explained intentions of non-burning, targeting these norms and their underlying values and beliefs might be promising for promoting non-burning.203 weeks ago
- Harmful cyanobacterial blooms pose increasing threats to aquatic ecosystems and human health; yet, the role of zooplankton grazing in regulating blooms remains understudied. We investigated the seasonal feeding behaviour and fitness consequences of feeding preferences in natural zooplankton communities for toxic (microcystin-producing) versus non-toxic cyanobacteria across temperature gradients in eutrophic Lake Greifen, Switzerland. We conducted monthly experiments from April to October 2023 to test the grazing behaviour of four zooplankton groups (daphnids, calanoid copepods, cyclopoid copepods, and microzooplankton) exposed to mixed diets of green algae and either toxic or non-toxic Microcystis strains at 15°C and 25°C. Contrary to expectations of cyanobacteria avoidance, zooplankton exhibited predominantly non-selective grazing throughout the seasonal succession, consuming both toxic and non-toxic cyanobacteria at similar rates, regardless of temperature. Notably, during the peaks of phytoplankton abundance (April and September), mesozooplankton demonstrated a selective preference for cyanobacteria over green algae, particularly non-toxic strains. Temperature effects were subtle but revealed metabolic constraints: elevated temperatures occasionally triggered selective consumption of cyanobacteria in copepods, while fitness costs (survival) from exposure to toxic species were mostly restricted to transitional bloom periods and high-temperature conditions. These findings suggest that toxic cyanobacteria may not always evade grazing pressure through secondary metabolite deterrent effects. Our results suggest that zooplankton communities can adapt and graze on cyanobacteria regardless of toxicity under the tested conditions, even during bloom conditions. These observations highlight the potential for zooplankton to interact with cyanobacterial populations, which may have implications for bloom prediction and management strategies, particularly under climate warming scenarios. This package provides the dataset and codes to replicate the analysis and findings demonstrated in the article "Zooplankton feeding behaviour and survival to toxic and non-toxic cyanobacteria during the seasonal bloom progression of a eutrophic lake."23 weeks ago
- The extent of littoral influence on lake gas dynamics remains debated in the aquatic science community due to the lack of direct quantification of lateral gas transport. The prevalent assumption of diffusive horizontal transport in gas budgets fails to explain anomalies observed in pelagic gas concentrations. Here we demonstrate through high-frequency measurements in a eutrophic lake that daily convective horizontal circulation generates littoral-pelagic advective gas fluxes one order of magnitude larger than typical horizontal fluxes used in gas budgets. These lateral fluxes are sufficient to redistribute gases at the basin-scale and generate concentration anomalies reported in other lakes. Our observations also contrast the hypothesis of pure, nocturnal littoral-to-pelagic exchange by showing that convective circulation transports gases like oxygen and methane toward both the pelagic and littoral zones during the daytime. This study challenges the traditional pelagic-centered models of aquatic systems by showing that convective circulation represents a fundamental lateral transport mechanism to be integrated into gas budgets.53 weeks ago
- Cities are increasingly adopting blue-green infrastructure (BGI) to address the dual challenges of extreme rainfall and rising temperatures driven by climate change. While the potential of BGI for urban stormwater management is well-studied, the cooling effect of stormwater-focused BGI remains underexplored. This study investigates the heat mitigation potential of three stormwater BGI elements, bioretention cells, porous pavements, and detention ponds, within three urban street canyons in a Swiss town near Zurich. The Urban Tethys-Chloris (UT&C) microclimate model was modified to explicitly represent stormwater BGI and assess their influence on the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) at 2 meters above the ground. Simulations were conducted under both historical climate and a future climate projection, including a sensitivity analysis of soil types. BGI can cool up to 2.7 °C, but their effectiveness depends on the type of BGI, the surface it replaces, the time of the day, and the availability of water. Soil properties were found to significantly influence the cooling effect of bioretention cells, with finer-textured soils achieving higher soil moisture levels and greater reductions in UTCI. A trade-off between cooling and stormwater infiltration also emerged. Sandy soils favor infiltration but dry out quickly, limiting cooling, while clay-rich soils limit infiltration but retain moisture and sustain evaporative cooling, even under future climate conditions with longer dry spells. These findings highlight the importance of integrating hydrological and thermal considerations into BGI design. Integrated approaches that balance both objectives are needed.33 weeks ago
- This data package contains all raw digital PCR (dPCR) data used in the manuscript titled “Clade-specific multiplex digital PCR assay for monkeypox virus detection in wastewater". The study presents the development of a dPCR assay capable of detecting and quantifying the monkeypox virus (MPXV) while simultaneously distinguishing between its clades.23 weeks ago
- Freshwater algae exhibit complex dynamics, particularly in meso-oligotrophic lakes with sudden and dramatic increases in algal biomass following long periods of low background concentration. While the fundamental prerequisites for algal blooms, namely light and nutrients, are well-known, their specific causation involves an intricate chain of conditions. Here we examine a recent massive Uroglena bloom in Lake Geneva (Switzerland/France). We show that a certain sequence of meteorological conditions triggered this specific algal bloom event: heavy rainfall promoting excessive organic matter and nutrients loading, followed by wind-induced coastal upwelling, and a prolonged period of warm, calm weather. The combination of satellite remote sensing, in-situ measurements, ad-hoc biogeochemical analyses, and three-dimensional modeling proved invaluable in unraveling the complex dynamics of algal blooms highlighting the substantial role of littoral-pelagic connectivities in large low-nutrient lakes. These findings underscore the advantages of state-of-the-art multidisciplinary approaches for an improved understanding of dynamic systems as a whole.23 weeks ago
- Synthetic Plant Protection Products (PPPs) are a key element for a large part of today's global food systems. However, the transport of PPPs and their transformation products (TPs) to water bodies has serious negative effects on aquatic ecosystems. Small streams in agricultural catchments may experience pronounced concentration peaks given the proximity to fields and poor dilution capacity. Traditional sampling approaches often prevent a comprehensive understanding of PPPs and TPs concentration patterns being limited by trade-offs between temporal resolution and duration of the observation period. These limitations result in a knowledge gap for accurate ecotoxicological risk assessment and the achievement of optimal monitoring strategies for risk mitigation. We present here high-frequency PPPs and TPs concentration time-series measured with the autonomous MS2Field platform that combines continuous sampling and on-site measurements with a high-resolution mass spectrometer, which allows for overcoming temporal trade-offs. In a small agricultural catchment, we continuously measured 60 compounds at 20 minutes resolution for 41 days during the growing season. This observation period included 8 large and 15 small rain events and provided 2560 concentration values per compound.To identify similarities and differences among the compound-specific concentration time-series, we analysed the entire dataset with positive matrix factorisation. Six factors sufficiently captured the overall complexity in concentration dynamics. While one factor reflected dilution during rainfall, five factors identified PPPs groups that seemed to share a common history of recent applications. The investigation per event of the concentration time-series revealed a surprising complexity of dynamic patterns; physico-chemical properties of the compounds did not influence the (dis)similarity of chemographs. Some PPPs concentration peaks led while others lagged by several hours the water level peaks during large events. During small events, water level peaks always preceded concentration peaks, which were generally only observed when the water levels had almost receded to pre-event levels. Thus, monitoring schemes relying on rainfall or water level as proxies for triggering sampling may lead to systematic biases.The high temporal resolution revealed that the Swiss national monitoring integrating over 3.5 days underestimated critical concentration peaks by a factor of eight to more than 32, captured 3 out of 11 exceedances of legal acute quality standards (the relevant values in the Swiss Water Protection Law) and recorded 1 out of 9 exceedances of regulatory acceptable concentrations (the relevant values for the PPPs registration process).MS2Field allowed for observing unexpected and overlooked pesticide dynamics with consequences for further research but also for monitoring. The large variability in timing of concentration peaks relative to water level calls for more in-depth analyses regarding the respective transport mechanisms. To perform these analyses, spatially distributed sampling and time-series of geo-referenced PPPs application data are needed.83 weeks ago
- This dataset presents the results of a manual content analysis of evidence used in the public discourse on pesticides in Switzerland as part of the research project Evidence-Based Transformation in Pesticide Governance (TRAPEGO). This includes evidence used in articles in the mass and trade media, as well as in policy documents in the parliamentary arena, from 2013 to 2022.23 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in March 2022 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW123 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in May 2021 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW123 weeks ago
- Combined sewer overflows (CSOs), the discharge of untreated sewage mixed with stormwater into surface waters, are expected to increase under climate change as a result of more extreme rainfall. Blue-green infrastructure (BGI), such as bioretention cells and porous pavements, can help to reduce the amount of stormwater entering combined sewer systems, thus reducing CSO discharge. However, our understanding of the potential for BGI to mitigate CSOs in a future climate is still lacking, as performance is typically evaluated for individual BGI elements with fixed implementation areas under historical climate conditions or limited future scenarios. In response, this study investigates the performance of 30 combinations of BGI elements and implementation rates to prevent increases in CSOs under a range of future climate scenarios in an urban catchment near Zurich, Switzerland. Median total annual rainfall, projected to increase by as much as 46%, could double the median annual CSO volume and increase median annual CSO frequency by up to 52%. Four BGI combinations that include bioretention cells show the most promise to prevent increases in CSO volume and frequency in a future climate; and given the diverse responses of BGI elements to distinct rainfall patterns, their combinations can enhance CSO discharge reduction across varying climate patterns. BGI is also likely to become more cost-effective under future climatic conditions as projected increases in total rainfall led to larger CSO volume reductions obtained through BGI. However, there is a trade-off between robustness to climate change and cost-effectiveness, since CSO volume reduction capacity scales with BGI implementation rate but cost-effectiveness declines. Our study illustrates the effectiveness of various BGI combinations to prevent increases in CSOs in a future climate, calling for a range of BGI elements and implementation areas to be considered for urban drainage adaptation.83 weeks ago
- The two zip files contain the data and the R script needed to replicate the socio-technical network analysis of a case study urban wastewater system as described in the article with the following reference: Manny, L., Angst, M., Rieckermann, J., Fischer, M. (2022) Socio-technical networks of infrastructure management: Network concepts and motifs for studying digitalization, decentralization, and integrated management, *Journal of Environmental Management*, 318, 115596, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115596.33 weeks ago
- The amount of bacterial diversity present on many surfaces is enormous, yet how these levels of diversity persist in the face of the purifying processes that occur as bacterial communities expand across space (referred to here as range expansion) remains enigmatic. We shed light on this apparent paradox by providing mechanistic evidence for a strong role of fungal hyphae-mediated dispersal on regulating bacterial diversity during range expansion. Using pairs of fluorescently labelled bacterial strains and a hyphae-forming fungal strain that expand together across a nutrient-amended surface, we show that a hyphal network increases the spatial intermixing and extent of range expansion of the bacterial strains. This is true regardless of the type of interaction (competition or resource cross-feeding) imposed between the bacterial strains. We further show that the underlying cause is that flagellar motility drives bacterial dispersal along the hyphal network, which counteracts the purifying effects of ecological drift at the expansion frontier. We finally demonstrate that hyphae-mediated spatial intermixing increases the conjugation-mediated spread of plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance. In conclusion, fungal hyphae are important regulators of bacterial diversity and promote plasmid-mediated functional novelty during range expansion in an interaction-independent manner.33 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in May 2019 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targetting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targetting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW93 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in November 2019 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW123 weeks ago
- Blue-green infrastructure (BGI) reduce urban combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and stormwater outlets (SWOs). However, most conventional BGI are not designed to remove trace organic contaminants. Little is known about the potential of conventional BGI to improve surface water quality by reducing the discharge of trace organic contaminants. We derived wash-off loads for street runoff (6PPD-q, DPG, and HMMM), construction materials (diuron), and wastewater-derived contaminants (diclofenac) based on measurements in the combined sewer system. Subsequently, the performance of four BGI types (bioretention cells, green roofs, porous pavements, and urban wetlands) to reduce the discharge of trace organic contaminants via SWOs and CSOs was quantified with a hydrodynamic SWMM model. Moreover, the catchment-wide impact of SWOs and CSOs on surface water was assessed using risk quotients. We found that the annually discharged load can be considerably reduced by implementing BGI. Among the studied BGI types, bioretention cells are the most effective, with a load reduction of up to 80% to surface waters, mainly due to a larger suitable implementation area and a substantial stormwater infiltration. BGI implemented in the separate sewer system are more effective in reducing stormwater contaminant loads than BGI in the combined system. The assessment of the risk quotient in the surface water showed that the concentrations during SWO and CSO discharges exceed the acute environmental threshold in the surface water for 6PPD-q, DPG, diuron, and diclofenac during several events. The implementation of BGI reduced the hours of exceeded risk quotient in the surface water by 93% for bioretention cells. These findings underscore the need for a catchment-wide assessment of future BGI implementations to quantify, manage, and mitigate the impacts of urban pollution.43 weeks ago
- Climate change is projected to increase flood risks in western Africa. In the FANFAR project, a pre-operational flood early warning system (FEWS) for western Africa was co-designed in workshops with 50–60 stakeholders from 17 countries, adopting multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). We aimed at (i) designing a FEWS with western African stakeholders using MCDA and (ii) evaluating participatory MCDA as a transdisciplinary process. To achieve the first aim (i), we used MCDA methods for problem structuring and preference elicitation in workshops. Problem structuring included stakeholder analysis, creating 10 objectives to be achieved by the FANFAR FEWS and designing 11 possible FEWS configurations. Experts predicted FEWS configuration performance, which we integrated with stakeholder preferences. We tested MCDA results in sensitivity analyses. Three FEWSs showed good performance, despite uncertainty, and were robust across different preferences. For stakeholders it was most important that the FEWS produces accurate, clear, timely, and accessible flood risk information. To achieve the second aim (ii), we clustered common characteristics of collaborative governance frameworks from the sustainability science and transdisciplinary literature. Our framework emphasizes issues crucial to the earth systems sciences, such as uncertainty and integrating interdisciplinary knowledge. MCDA can address both well. Other strengths of MCDA are co-producing knowledge with stakeholders and providing a consistent methodology with unambiguous, shared results. Participatory MCDA including problem structuring can contribute to co-designing a project but does not achieve later phases of transdisciplinary processes well, such as co-disseminating and evaluating results. We encourage colleagues to use MCDA and the proposed framework for evaluating transdisciplinary hydrology research that engages with stakeholders and society.53 weeks ago
- Lakes are often described as sentinels of global change. Phenomena like lake eutrophication, algal blooms, or reorganization in community composition belong to the most studied ecosystem regime shifts. But, although regime shifts have been well documented in several lakes, a global assessment of the prevalence of regime shifts is still missing, and, more in general, of the factors altering stability in lake status, is missing. Here, we provide a first global assessment of regime shifts and stability in the productivity of 1,015 lakes worldwide using trophic state index (TSI) time series derived from satellite imagery. We find that 12.8% of the lakes studied show regime shifts whose signatures are compatible with tipping points, while the number of detected regime shifts from low to high TSI has increased over time. Although our results suggest an overall stable picture for global lake dynamics, the limited instability signatures do not mean that lakes are insensitive to global change. Modeling the interaction between lake climatic, geophysical, and socioeconomic features and their stability properties, we find that the probability of a lake experiencing a tipping point increases with human population density in its catchment, while it decreases as the gross domestic product of that population increases. Our results show how quantifying lake productivity dynamics at a global scale highlights socioeconomic inequalities in conserving natural environments.23 weeks ago
- CTD and Meteo data from the monitoring station that is formatted in the way it is needed for the submission to the GLEON MixMet data call. Project goal: assess how whole lake metabolism may change in response to warming, using high-resolution measurements of dissolved oxygen, temperature and other variables from a global and diverse set of lakes. MixMet project website: https://gleon.org/research/projects/mixmet-lake-mixing-and-metabolism23 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in January 2022 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW93 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in December 2022 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW1673 weeks ago
- Bromine radical (Br) has been hypothesized to be a key intermediate of bromate formation during ozonation. Once formed, Br further reacts with ozone to eventually form bromate. However, this reaction competes with the reaction of Br with dissolved organic matter (DOM), of which reactivity and reaction mechanisms are less studied to date. To fill this gap, this study determined the second-order rate constant (k) of the reactions of selected organic model compounds, a DOM isolate, and monochloramine (NH2Cl) with Br using γ-radiolysis. The kBr of all model compounds were high (kBr > 108 M-1 s-1) and well correlated with quantum-chemically computed free energies of activation, indicating a selectivity of Br toward electron-rich compounds, governed by electron transfer. The reaction of phenol (a representative DOM moiety) with Br yielded p-benzoquinone as a major product with a yield of 59% per consumed phenol, suggesting an electron transfer mechanism. Finally, the potential of NH2Cl to quench Br was tested based on the fast reaction (kBr, NH2Cl = 4.4 × 109 M-1 s-1, this study), resulting in reduced bromate formation of up to 77% during ozonation of bromide-containing lake water. Overall, our study demonstrated that Br quenching by NH2Cl can substantially suppress bromate formation, especially in waters containing low DOC concentrations (1-2 mgC/L).23 weeks ago
- The WISPstation, an autonomous in situ radiometer, collected measurements of upward and downward radiance, as well as downwelling irradiance over Greifensee, Switzerland, from April 2022 and December 2023. Remote sensing reflectance spectra were derived from these observations.33 weeks ago
- Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) are an important pathway of organic micropollutants from urban areas to open water bodies. Understanding the temporal dynamics of these micropollutants during overflow events is crucial for applying appropriate sampling methods and implementing effective management strategies. Yet, little is known about the dynamics of micropollutants in CSOs, because most studies report concentrations from single grab samples or event mean concentrations (EMCs). With unique high temporal resolution measurements (3 minutes), we show the real dynamics of polar organic micropollutants in CSOs of one small (2,700 people: P) and one large (159,000 P) urban catchment, for two micropollutant categories: (i) 33 micropollutants in municipal wastewater and (ii) 13 micropollutants from urban surface runoff. The concentration dynamics depend on the substance source and the catchment size. Indoor substances such as pharmaceuticals show high temporal dynamics with changes of 1–2 orders of magnitude within 9 minutes in the CSO of the small catchment. In contrast, outdoor substances at the small catchment and all substances at the large catchment display considerably lower variation. We tested various time-proportional sampling strategies to assess the range of error when estimating EMCs. We recommend an interval of 3 minutes to capture the dynamics of indoor substances in CSOs from small catchments. The results highlight that both future monitoring campaigns and the planning and management of urban wet-weather treatment systems will benefit from high temporal sampling resolutions, not only to understand dynamics but also to minimize errors of estimated EMCs.23 weeks ago
- The evolution of active mutualism through costly metabolite production is predicted to be favoured in spatially structured microbial communities, where local interactions can couple investment to reciprocal return. Central to this framework is the assumption that increased investment by a producer enhances partner growth and thereby generates a corresponding return to the producer. However, whether faster growth of partner cells translates into increased metabolite return to the producing cells remains unclear. Here, we combine single-cell microfluidics with mechanistic modelling to quantify how metabolic investment, partner growth, and reciprocal feedback are coupled in a synthetic community of amino acid auxotrophs. We show that increased investment of a primary metabolite (tryptophan) strongly enhances the growth of a dependent partner, but results in only a marginal increase in the reciprocal release of the return metabolite (proline), resulting in a net fitness cost to overproducing cells. Our results demonstrate that spatial structure alone is insufficient to favour the invasion of costly metabolic traits. Instead, the evolution of active mutualism is constrained by how metabolite return scales with investment, which can be limited by cellular physiology. When returns do not increase sufficiently with investment, costly production is not favoured, suggesting that many microbial interactions observed in nature arise from by-product release or unavoidable leakage rather than from the evolution of costly, regulated exchange.473 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in May 2023 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW123 weeks ago
- Spatial self-organization is a hallmark of surface-associated microbial communities that is governed by local environmental conditions and further modified by interspecific interactions. Here, we hypothesize that spatial patterns of microbial cell-types can stabilize the composition of cross-feeding microbial communities under fluctuating environmental conditions. We tested this hypothesis by studying the growth and spatial self-organization of microbial co-cultures consisting of two metabolically interacting strains of the bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri. We inoculated the co-cultures onto agar surfaces and allowed them to expand (i.e. range expansion) while fluctuating environmental conditions that alter the dependency between the two strains. We alternated between anoxic conditions that induce a mutualistic interaction and oxic conditions that induce a competitive interaction. We observed co-occurrence of both strains in rare and highly localized clusters (referred to as “spatial jackpot events”) that persist during environmental fluctuations. To resolve the underlying mechanisms for the emergence of spatial jackpot events, we used a mechanistic agent-based mathematical model that resolves growth and dispersal at the scale relevant to individual cells. While co-culture composition varied with the strength of the mutualistic interaction and across environmental fluctuations, the model provides insights into the formation of spatially resolved substrate landscapes with localized niches that support the co-occurrence of the two strains and secure co-culture function. This study highlights that in addition to spatial patterns that emerge in response to environmental fluctuations, localized spatial jackpot events ensure persistence of strains across dynamic conditions.43 weeks ago
- **This dataset is part of [the UWO project](https://doi.org/10.25678/000C5K).** The digital field laboratory UWO is a long-term experiment to monitor the space-time dynamics of the - not only urban - water cycle in the Fehraltorf region. It is a field laboratory, a testing ground for sensor technology and IoT telemetry, and an outdoor classroom all in one. This package contains the data published in the corresponding data publication for the period of 2019 to 2021. This package is published as part of a bundle which consists of the packages UWO - [Accompanying data (2019 to 2021)]( https://doi.org/10.25678/000991), [UWO - Data access (2019 to 2021)](https://doi.org/10.25678/000980), [UWO - Data viewer (2019 to 2021)](https://doi.org/10.25678/00092Z) and [UWO - Field observations (2019 to 2021)]( https://doi.org/10.25678/00091Y).53 weeks ago
- Wastewater-based epidemiology is an established approach for monitoring population-level illicit drug use. Standard methods rely on 24-hour composite samples collected from treatment plant influent. While suitable for assessing long-term consumption patterns, composite samples obscure diurnal information on daily load dynamics - valuable for understanding substance sources and normalization strategies. Currently, the required, high manual effort limits the feasibility of diurnal monitoring applications. In this study, we deployed a transportable, automated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry system (MS2Field) at the influent of the wastewater treatment plant in Zurich, Switzerland (serving 471,000 people). Over an eight-week period from July to September 2023 - including school holidays and two major public events - samples were analyzed every 36 min (1909 total). Loads of five exogenous population biomarkers, six common illicit drug markers, and the cocaine adulterant levamisole were quantified. In parallel, hourly mobile phone data were used to estimate de facto population size and demographic composition in the catchment. Automated analysis enabled the detection of consistent, weekday-specific intraday patterns for individual substances. Population biomarkers exhibited distinct temporal profiles: paraxanthine remained stable during working hours, while candesartan declined even at peak population times - highlighting implications for normalization, particularly with day visitors. Mobile phone-based occupancy data aligned with general trends but diverged during large events, likely due to mobile toilet use, whereas chemical markers directly reflected the contributing population. During the special events, MDMA, ketamine, and amphetamine loads rose with distinct profiles - one event showing a gradual overnight rise, the other a morning peak. Daily MDMA loads were 20-fold higher during one event than typical weekends. Ketamine showed irregular spikes, possibly due to a smaller user base, rapid excretion, or direct input. Levamisole loads rose on weekends and during events, mirroring benzoylecgonine, indicating continued presence as harmful cocaine adulterant. Automated analysis reveals short-term intraday trends, providing additional insights into the sources of chemical marker loads - such as consumption, excretion, and contributions from transient populations - that are typically averaged out in standard 24-hour composite samples.23 weeks ago
- In 2021, the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) tasked Eawag to deploy temperature monitoring stations in several lakes in view of a Swiss-wide temperature monitoring network. The monitoring station in Lake Murten (Canton Fribourg) was introduced in July 2022 and it was operated until the end of 2024 by FOEN (financing) and Eawag (operation and maintenance). The measurement station consists of databuoy combined with a thermistor chain from RBR (Canada) with higher vertical resolution close to the surface. At the end of 2024, the measurement station was transferred from FOEN to Canton Fribourg. Since January 2025, the measurement station is operated jointly by Canton Fribourg (financing), FOEN (financial contribution to data processing and server infrastructure) and Eawag (operation and maintenance).33 weeks ago
- Human activities have facilitated the invasion of freshwater ecosystems by a variety of organisms. Especially invasive bivalves such as the quagga mussels, Dreissena bugensis, have the potential to alter ecosystem function as they heavily affect the food web. Quagga mussels occur in high abundance, have a high filtration rate, quickly spread within and between waterbodies via pelagic larvae and colonise various substrates also at greater lake depths. They have invaded various waterbodies on the Northern hemisphere and are continuing to expand their range. Quagga mussels that colonized deeper areas are often thinner and brighter shelled. We analysed 675 quagga mussels using ddRAD sequencing to gain in-depth insights into the genetic population structure of quagga mussels across Central European lakes and across various sites and depth habitats in Lake Constance. We revealed substantial genetic differentiation amongst quagga mussel populations from three unconnected lakes and all populations showed high genetic diversity and effective population size. Our data hence suggests that quagga mussels have arrived independently into the three unconnected lakes and that each invasion likely originated from a distinct and genetically differentiated source population. There was no genetic differentiation amongst quagga mussels across sites and depth habitats within Lake Constance. We also did not identify any convincing candidate loci evidential for adaption along a depth gradient and a transplant experiment showed no indications of adaptation to living in the deep based on investigating growth and survival. Hence, the shallow-water and the deep-water morphotypes seem to be a result of phenotypic plasticity rather than locally adapted to depth. In conclusion, our high-resolution ddRAD approach revealed insight on the independent colonisation of three perialpine lakes and suggests that phenotypic plasticity and marine like reproduction system facilitate the fast spread and colonisation of various depth habitats by the quagga mussel.123 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in October 2021 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW293 weeks ago
- **There is a newer version for this data package:** https://doi.org/10.25678/000GE8 In 2021, the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) tasked Eawag to deploy temperature monitoring stations in several lakes in view of a Swiss-wide temperature monitoring network. The monitoring station in Lake Murten (Canton Fribourg) was introduced in July 2022 and it was operated until the end of 2024 by FOEN (financing) and Eawag (operation and maintenance). The measurement station consists of databuoy combined with a thermistor chain from RBR (Canada) with higher vertical resolution close to the surface. At the end of 2024, the measurement station was transferred from FOEN to Canton Fribourg. Since January 2025, the measurement station is operated jointly by Canton Fribourg (financing), FOEN (financial contribution to data processing and server infrastructure) and Eawag (operation and maintenance).33 weeks ago
- Predicting the spread of populations across fragmented habitats is vital if we are to manage their persistence in the long term. We applied network theory with a model and an experiment to show that spread rate is jointly defined by the configuration of habitat networks (i.e., the arrangement and length of connections between habitat fragments) and the movement behavior of individuals. We found that population spread rate in the model was well predicted by algebraic connectivity of the habitat network. A multi-generation experiment with the microarthropod Folsomia candida validated this model prediction. Realized habitat connectivity and spread rate were determined by the interaction between dispersal behavior and habitat configuration, such that the network configurations that facilitated the fastest spread changed depending on the shape of the species’ dispersal kernel. Predicting the spread rate of populations in fragmented landscapes requires combining knowledge of species-specific dispersal kernels and the spatial configuration of habitat networks. This information can be used to design landscapes to manage the spread and persistence of species in fragmented habitats.23 weeks ago
- Cleaned CTD profiles, where all profiles were used. Additional measurements after a full profile were deleted, as well as doubled measurements at the same depth. Measurement errors are not removed such as negative Chl-aPAR... values. The data still needs to be cleaned for that.23 weeks ago
- This package contains data regarding on-site continuous mass spectrometric analysis of sewer gasses. A portable mass spectrometer, miniRUEDI (Brennwald et al., 2016) was used for the analysis of noble gasses and CO2, CH4, O2, N2 in the sewer headspace. The monitoring points include a trunck sewer and a sump pump tank next to the experimental hall of Eawag.53 weeks ago
- Cyanobacterial blooms increasingly threaten vital freshwater ecosystems, with harmful impacts exacerbated by climate change and eutrophication. Despite extensive research on temperature and nutrient effects, our explanatory and predictive capacity remains limited. We propose that this limitation stems from insufficient understanding of how biotic and abiotic factors interact to modify cyanobacterial net growth. Using five years of daily monitoring data from a eutrophic lake and causal inference via state-space reconstruction modelling, we show that interactions with co-occurring plankton taxa fundamentally reshape the realised niche of bloom-forming cyanobacteria over environmental gradients. Biotic interactions shift temperature boundaries for net growth by up to 13°C and phosphorus requirements by over 20 μg/L in toxic *Microcystaceae* and *Dolichospermum spp*. Grazing inhibits bloom formation across cyanobacterial taxa, while facilitation by other phytoplankton may allow blooms at unexpectedly low temperatures and phosphate concentrations. These findings address a fundamental research gap—how biotic interactions shape realised niches in natural ecosystems—while offering practical insights for bloom management. By integrating biotic interactions into monitoring programs and predictive models, we can improve forecasting accuracy and develop targeted interventions that complement traditional nutrient control approaches. These findings parallel recent advances in ecology suggesting the fundamental role of biotic interactions in mediating species' responses to environmental change.23 weeks ago
- Delayed toxicity is a phenomenon observed for aquatic invertebrates exposed to nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists such as neonicotinoids. Furthermore, recent studies observed an incomplete elimination of neonicotinoids from exposed amphipods. However, a mechanistic link between receptor binding and toxicokinetic modeling has not been demonstrated yet. The elimination of the neonicotinoid thiacloprid in the freshwater amphipod Gammarus pulex was studied in several toxicokinetic exposure experiments, complemented with in vitro and in vivo receptor binding assays. Based on the results, a two-compartment model was developed to predict uptake and elimination kinetics of thiacloprid in G. pulex. An incomplete elimination of thiacloprid independent of elimination phase duration, exposure concentrations and pulses was observed. Additionally, the receptor binding assays indicated irreversible binding of thiacloprid to the nAChRs. Accordingly, a toxicokinetic-receptor model consisting of a structure and a membrane protein (i.e., nAChR) compartment was developed. The model successfully predicted internal thiacloprid concentrations across various experiments. Our results help understanding the delayed toxic and receptor-mediated effects towards arthropods caused by neonicotinoids. Furthermore, the results suggest that more awareness towards long-term toxic effects of irreversible receptor binding is needed in a regulatory context. The developed model supports future toxicokinetic assessment of receptor binding contaminants.33 weeks ago
- Ozonation of drinking water and wastewater is accompanied by the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) such as low molecular weight aldehydes and ketones from the reactions of ozone with dissolved organic matter (DOM). By applying a recently developed non-target workflow, 178 carbonous and nitrogenous carbonyl compounds were detected during bench-scale ozonation of two lake waters and three secondary wastewater effluent samples and full-scale ozonation of secondary treated wastewater effluent. An overlapping subset of carbonyl compounds (20%) was detected in all water types. Moreover, wastewater effluents showed a significantly higher fraction of N-containing carbonyl compounds (30%) compared to lake water (17%). All carbonyl compounds can be classified in 5 main formation trends as a function of increasing specific ozone doses. Formation trends upon ozonation and comparison of results in presence and absence of the •OH radical scavenger DMSO in combination with kinetic and mechanistic information allowed to elucidate potential carbonyl structures. A link between the detected carbonyl compounds and their precursors was established by ozonating six model compounds (phenol, 4-ethylphenol, 4-methoxyphenol, sorbic acid, 3-buten-2-ol and acetylacetone). About one third of the detected carbonous carbonyl compounds detected in real waters was also detected by ozonating model compounds. Evaluation of the non-target analysis data revealed the identity of 15 carbonyl compounds, including hydroxylated aldehydes and ketones (e.g. hydroxyacetone, confidence level (CL) = 1), unsaturated dicarbonyls (e.g. acrolein, CL = 1; 2-butene-1,4-dial, CL = 1; 4-oxobut-2-enoic acid, CL = 2) and also a nitrogen-containing carbonyl compound (2-oxo-propanamide, CL =1). Overall, this study shows the formation of versatile carbonous and nitrogenous carbonyl compounds upon ozonation involving ozone and •OH reactions. Carbonyl compounds with unknown toxicity might be formed, and it could be demonstrated that acrolein, malondialdehyde, methyl glyoxal, 2-butene-1,4-dial and 4-oxo-pentenal are degraded during biological post-treatment.23 weeks ago
- Many bacteria employ contact-dependent killing mechanisms, which require direct physical contact with a target cell, to gain an advantage over competitors. Here, we hypothesize that evaporation-induced fluid flows determine the number of contacts between attacking and target cells, thus controlling killing efficacy. To test this, we experimentally manipulated the strength of the coffee ring effect (CRE) and measured the consequences on killing mediated by the type VI secretion system (T6SS). The CRE is caused by evaporation-induced fluid flows that move water and cells from the center to the periphery of a liquid droplet, consequently concentrating cells at the periphery. We found that the CRE significantly increases the number of contacts between attacking (Vibrio cholerae) and target (Escherichia coli) cells and enhances the ability of V. cholerae to kill and out-compete E. coli. We corroborated our findings with individual-based computational simulations and demonstrated that increased cell densities at the droplet periphery caused by the CRE increase killing. We further found that the T6SS firing rate, lethal hit threshold, and lysis delay significantly affect killing when the CRE is strong. Our results underscore the importance of evaporation-induced fluid flows in shaping bacterial interactions and controlling competitive outcomes.93 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in November 2020 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW213 weeks ago
- Access to safe and affordable drinking water remains a challenge with 2 billion people still lacking access worldwide. Passive in-line chlorination holds promise for resource-limited rural settings. The A’J´ın chlorinator is a low-cost, handmade passive in-line chlorination device promoted by Helvetas Guatemala. This study evaluated the acceptance of the A’J´ın chlorinator and its effectiveness in reducing bacterial contamination in tap and drinking water in 14 water distribution system (9 control, 5 treatment) rural Guatemala. We held household and operator surveys, and monitored E. coli and total coliform presence, pH, temperature, turbidity and free residual chlorine (FRC) concentration at reservoir tanks and of tap water and household drinking water. 1 The findings demonstrated that passive chlorination significantly reduced E. coli presence in tap and drinking water. Initially, 28% of taps and 25% of drinking water samples tested positive for E. coli, which decreased to 1% and 15% respectively in the WDS actively using the A’J´ın device. A rather low chlorine dosing consistency was observed, with only 24% of collected tap samples meeting the recommended minimal free residual chlorine (FRC) threshold of 0.2mg/L. Despite detectable FRC, some tap and household drinking water samples still exhibited bacterial contamination. The device’s low cost and accessibility were overshadowed by operational challenges, high maintenance needs and frequent clogging. To ensure the future success of passive chlorination, we recommend prioritising ease of use combined with low maintenance needs.23 weeks ago
- Microbial communities are fundamental to life on Earth. Different strains within these communities are often connected by a highly connected metabolic network, where the growth of one strain depends on the metabolic activities of other community members. While distributed metabolic functions allow microbes to reduce costs and optimize metabolic pathways, they make them metabolically dependent. Here, we hypothesize that such dependencies can be detrimental in situations where the external conditions change rapidly, as they often do in natural environments. After a shift in external conditions, microbes need to remodel their metabolism, but they can only resume growth once partners on which they depend have also adapted to the new conditions. It is currently not well understood how microbial communities resolve this dilemma and how metabolic interactions are re-established after an environmental shift. To address this question, we investigated the dynamical responses to environmental perturbation by microbial consortia with distributed anabolic functions. By measuring the regrowth times at the single-cell level in spatially structured communities, we found that metabolic dependencies lead to a growth delay after an environmental shift. However, a minority of cells – those in the immediate neighborhood of their metabolic partners – can regrow quickly and comes to numerically dominate the community after the shift. The spatial arrangement of a microbial community is thus a key factor in determining the communities’ ability to maintain metabolic interactions and growth in fluctuating conditions. Our results suggest that environmental fluctuations can limit the emergence of metabolic dependencies between microorganisms.713 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in August 2021 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW193 weeks ago
- Orbitrap mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI-Orbitrap MS) enables 18O/16O ratio measurements in phosphate and organophosphorus compounds. Its use for studying metabolic processes that involve phosphoryl transfer reactions and mitigation of organophosphorus pollutants is therefore of particular interest. While the instrumental feasibility of such 18O/16O ratio measurements has been shown, the applicability of such analyses in aqueous matrices on multi-purpose mass spectrometers remains unaddressed. Here, we (i) evaluated the interplay between instrument parameters and the long-term accuracy and precision of ESI-Orbitrap MS for the determination of δ18O(PO4) from H2PO4- vs. PO3- fragments of phosphate, (ii) identified properties of sample solutions that are critical for accurate and precise measurements, and (iii) propose a sample purification procedure for elimination of matrix-based interferences. In ten measurement campaigns over two years, we found a long-term reproducibility of δ18O(PO4) within ± 2.8‰. Results of in-source fragmentation experiments of H2PO4- to PO3- show excellent agreement in δ18O and offer promising opportunities to probe for 18O/16O ratios in organophosphorus compounds. By investigating the effect of the aqueous matrix and interfering anions on 18O/16O ratio measurements, we found that a water content exceeding 50 vol-\% and the presence of oxyanions such as nitrate and sulfate limit measurement accuracy due to interferences of matrix constituents in the ESI source. To overcome these challenges, we evaluated selective phosphate extraction with zirconium-based metal--organic framework (MOF) as sorbent. The resulting purification procedure enabled the successful extraction and recovery of phosphate from nitrate and sulfate-containing aqueous solutions, resulting in methanolic phosphate samples that enabled accurate analyses of δ18O(PO4) by ESI-Orbitrap MS.53 weeks ago
- Bacteriophage infection and lysis are typically associated with bacterial death, yet they also release cellular components that can be reutilized by surviving cells, particularly under nutrient limitation. To quantify the short-term growth consequences of this process, we established a controlled system of two Escherichia coli lysogenic strains, one harboring a wild-type prophage and the other a temperature-inducible prophage, enabling selective lysis of a defined fraction of the population. Following induction and lysis, the resulting biomass loss was smaller than expected, consistent with rapid recycling of released material and enhanced growth of surviving cells. A phenomenological mathematical model captures these dynamics and identifies a fast, transient increase in growth rate that accounts for the observed biomass compensation. Independent single-cell microfluidic measurements confirmed this boost in growth rate. Together, this work provides quantitative insight into short-term nutrient recycling and growth dynamics following phage-mediated lysis during active bacterial growth.383 weeks ago
- The dataset of this paper originated from quantitative survey data and qualitative expert interviews with organizational actors relevant to the governance of ten Swiss wetlands from 2019 till 2021. Multi-level networks represent wetlands governance for each of the ten cases. Collaboration networks of actors form a first level of the multi-level networks. The collaboration network is connected to multiple other network levels that account for the social and ecological systems those actors are active in. 521 actors relevant to the management of the ten wetlands are included in the collaboration network; quantitative survey data exists for 71% of them. A unique feature of the collaboration network is that it differentiates between positive and negative forms of collaboration depending on actors' activity areas. Therefore, the data describes not only if actors collaborate but also how and where actors collaborate. Further additional two-mode networks (actor participation in forums and involvement in other regions outside the case area) are also elicited in the survey and connected to the collaboration network. The dataset also contains data on ecological system interdependencies in the form of conceptual maps derived from 34 expert interviews (2-4 experts per case).43 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in February 2023 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW683 weeks ago
- Antioxidants (AOs) are increasingly detected in the environment, in aquatic organisms, and in human biosamples. Therefore, we performed a comprehensive environmental and human health hazard assessment of more than 500 natural and synthetic AOs by exploring hazards associated with them, i.e., recalcitrance towards mineralization (NRB), persistence (P), bioaccumulation (B), toxicity (T), mobility (M), and formation of toxic transformation products (TPs). Experimental data complemented with in silico predictions revealed that 60% of the AOs classify/ are predicted to classify as NRB and T, out of which 31.6% classify as P and T. Of highest concern following EU regulations are PBT or PMT compounds, which are 4.8% and 2.1% of the AOs studied, respectively. All AOs classified as PBT/ PMT are of synthetic origin and by majority primary AOs, i.e., phenolic or amine compounds. Further, most predicted toxic TPs stem from phenolic and amine AO parent compounds. Natural primary AOs or secondary AOs, such as ester or organic sulfur compounds, are less often classified as hazardous. Only 19 AOs were identified as “non-hazardous”, with two still predicted to form at least one toxic TP.33 weeks ago
- This package contains the data used for the seminal publication on the ValueDecisions app: code, data related to the case study, data related to the usability test. Paper abstract: Complex environmental and public policy decisions profit from structured procedures such as multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). To support such decisions, the new open source application ValueDecisions provides advanced analysis and visualization with no programming expected from users. Based on multi-attribute value theory (MAVT), it offers analysis for decisions with conflicting and interacting objectives, multiple stakeholders, and uncertain consequences of options. Programmed in R, the shiny web framework makes it accessible via a graphical user interface in the browser. We exemplify using ValueDecisions for a wastewater infrastructure planning case in the Paris region. We surveyed preferences of 655 citizens and conducted sensitivity analysis of preference parameters. The best management options were robust across a range of preference profiles and assumptions. To evaluate the app, we developed a novel usability test based on the ISO standard for software quality and surveyed students using ValueDecisions for case studies.33 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected between May 2018 and June 2023 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW Funded by SNF projects 310030L_182124 and CRSII5_202290623 weeks ago
- ## There is [a newer version](https://doi.org/10.25678/00069G) of this dataset. **There is [an older version](https://doi.org/10.25678/0004AV) of this dataset.** The “National Long-term Surveillance of Swiss Rivers” (NADUF) program was initiated in 1972 as a cooperative project between three institutes: + [Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)](https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/en/home.html) + [Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG)](https://www.eawag.ch) + [Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)](https://www.wsl.ch/en.html) (since 2003) The following institutes participated later: + [Amt für Umwelt und Energie des Kantons Basel-Stadt (AUE)](https://www.aue.bs.ch) + [Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS)](https://www.metas.ch/metas/en/home.html) With the NADUF program, the chemical-physical state of Swiss rivers as well as intermediate-term and long-term changes in concentration are observed. Furthermore, it provides data for scientific studies on biological, chemical and physical processes in river water. The NADUF network serves as a basic data and sampling facility to evaluate the effectiveness of water protection measures and for various scientific projects.123 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in July 2019 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW143 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in August 2022 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW273 weeks ago
- ## There is [a newer version](https://doi.org/10.25678/000C7N) of this dataset. **There is [an older version](https://doi.org/10.25678/0008KG) of this dataset.** The “National Long-term Surveillance of Swiss Rivers” (NADUF) program was initiated in 1972 as a cooperative project between three institutes: + [Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)](https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/en/home.html) + [Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG)](https://www.eawag.ch) + [Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)](https://www.wsl.ch/en.html) (since 2003) The following institutes participated later: + [Amt für Umwelt und Energie des Kantons Basel-Stadt (AUE)](https://www.aue.bs.ch) + [Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS)](https://www.metas.ch/metas/en/home.html) With the NADUF program, the chemical-physical state of Swiss rivers as well as intermediate-term and long-term changes in concentration are observed. Furthermore, it provides data for scientific studies on biological, chemical and physical processes in river water. The NADUF network serves as a basic data and sampling facility to evaluate the effectiveness of water protection measures and for various scientific projects. ### Data from 2020 to 2022 The physical data for the years 2020 and 2022 are provisional. Accordingly, the chemical data are not yet definitive.123 weeks ago
- Cleaned CTD profiles, where only profiles that were complete between 1 m and 8 m were used. Additional measurements after a full profile were deleted, as well as doubled measurements at the same depth. Measurement errors are not removed such as negative Chl-a/PAR values. The data still needs to be cleaned for that.23 weeks ago
- The data package contains the data table and R script to produce the overview figure (1) on laboratory tests with mixtures of substances in soils for the publication under https://doi.org/10.1039/D5VA00405E. All files are also deposited with the tagged code and data version used in the publication under https://github.com/fabigpb/soil_mixture_risks.33 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in June 2023 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW133 weeks ago
- Nitrit ist eine ökotoxikologisch problematische Substanz und führt auf Kläranlagen zur Bildung von klimaschädlichem Lachgas. Auf nitrifizierenden Belebtschlammanlagen kann Nitrit saisonal akkumulieren und erhöhte Ablaufwerte treten auf. Hier diskutieren wir die Häufigkeit von Überschreitungen des Nitrit-Richtwerts auf Schweizer ARA und schlagen Gegenmassnahmen vor.43 weeks ago
- Self-organizing spatial patterns are ubiquitous in microbial ecosystems, yet their sensitivity to environmental conditions remains poorly understood. Understanding spatial pattern sensitivity is particularly relevant for surface-associated microbial systems, as their functioning depends on how different cell-types self-organize across space as a consequence of their traits and environmental conditions. Here, we integrate principles from microbial systems ecology with self-organization theory to understand how environmental conditions and biotic interactions shape the sensitivity of emergent spatial intermixing, which is a critical feature of spatial patterns. Using denitrifying strains of the bacterium Stutzerimonas stutzeri that engage in negative (competitive) or positive (cross-feeding) interactions, we demonstrate that spatial intermixing emerging from positive interactions is more sensitive to environmental conditions than that emerging from negative interactions. We further develop and quantify the spatial intermixing strength as a key descriptor of spatial pattern sensitivity, revealing that high short-range dispersal and strong biotic interdependence promote persistent spatial intermixing. Our findings highlight that ecosystem sensitivity to environmental conditions can be inferred from features of emergent spatial patterns, providing a quantitative framework for understanding how environmental and biological factors jointly govern ecosystem assembly and dynamics.83 weeks ago
- This package contains the public data for a published paper. Public decisions are typically related to large investments leaving long legacies. We should therefore strive for wide societal agreement regarding such decisions, which meet the diversity of preferences between stakeholders and over time. But if, how and why do stakeholder preferences change over time? In decision analysis, these questions received little attention. We explored them using three real-world public decision processes, based on Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA). We used re-peatedly elicited ranking of objectives over time. These were obtained during three to five moderated workshops we organised several months apart (total N = 200 questionnaires, and 100 stakeholders). We analysed individual and aggregated (group) preferences, their changes and potential drivers in-cluding demographic and experience variables. We also analysed the effect of preference evolution on the performance of decision-alternatives with MCDA over time. We found that stakeholder prefer-ences often changed over time, both on an individual and group level. These changes did not system-atically diminish over time, but some convergence of preferences was observed for stakeholders who repeatedly participated in workshops. High-ranking objectives were relatively stable and similar be-tween stakeholders. While preference changes could not be explained by demographics and personal experiences, repeated interaction with the decision problem might play a role. Neither the observed disagreement between stakeholders, nor the preference changes over time affected the best and worst performing alternatives in our decision problems. Thus, despite changing stakeholder preferences over time, public decision-makers can contrive robust solutions to complex public decision problems in the present.33 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in February 2021 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW93 weeks ago
- Investigating wastewater management matters: in many OECD countries, the conventional centralized system is reaching its limits. Alternative decentralized options exist. Some directly affect citizens with in-house wastewater treatment. Involving citizens in decision processes would legitimate the outcome and facilitate implementation. However, citizen participation is challenging because they are numerous, and need to learn about the topic and construct their opinion. To include citizens, we propose an innovative online survey based on Multi-Attribute Value Theory (MAVT). Citizens receive value-focused information, and can communicate their preferences, captured as weights assigned to objectives. We collected quantitative and qualitative data, and elicited preferences from 184 young Swiss citizens, who will have to live with the decision outcome. In addition to reporting on insights for wastewater management, we assessed our survey, i.e. whether respondents learnt about the topic, constructed preferences, and understood the requirement to think in terms of objectives. Water quality and health protection mattered the most. The objectives directly concerning the respondents (time demand, attractiveness) were the least important. The best-ranked option in the subsequent Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis was a decentralized source separating system with dry toilets. Respondents were unaware that such decentralized options exist, indicating that learning about the topic occurred. Preferences were mostly newly constructed from no opinion, or pre-existing ones were reinforced. Our value-focused online survey helped citizens to understand the complex decision and construct their preferences. Swiss decision-makers, and beyond, should not be scared of a paradigm shift in wastewater management: the young generation seems ready to decentralize.63 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in October 2022 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW323 weeks ago
- Plasmids are the main vector by which antibiotic resistance is transferred between bacterial cells within surface-associated communities. In this study, we ask whether there is an optimal time to administer antibiotics to minimize plasmid spread in new bacterial genotypes during community expansion across surfaces. We address this question using consortia of Pseudomonas stutzeri strains, where one is an antibiotic resistance-encoding plasmid donor and the other a potential recipient. We allowed the strains to co-expand across a surface and administered antibiotics at different times. We find that plasmid transfer and transconjugant proliferation have unimodal relationships with the timing of antibiotic administration, where they reach maxima at intermediate times. These unimodal relationships result from the interplay between the probabilities of plasmid transfer and loss. Our study provides mechanistic insights into the transfer and proliferation of antibiotic resistance-encoding plasmids within microbial communities and identifies the timing of antibiotic administration as an important determinant.63 weeks ago
- Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are key sources of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) that could influence the resistomes of microbial communities in various habitats of the receiving river ecosystem. However, it is currently unknown which habitats are most impacted and whether ARGs, like certain chemical contaminants, could be accumulated or enriched in the river ecosystem. We conducted a systematic metagenomic survey on the antibiotic resistomes of WWTP effluent, four riverine habitats (water, suspended particles, sediment, epilithic biofilm), and freshwater amphipod gut microbiomes. The impact of WWTP effluent on the downstream habitats was assessed in nine Swiss rivers. While there were significant differences in resistomes across habitats, the wastewater resistome was more similar to the resistome of receiving river water than to the resistomes of other habitats, and river water was the habitat most strongly impacted by the WWTPs effluent. The sulfonamide, beta-lactam, and aminoglycoside resistance genes were among the most abundant ARG in the WWTP effluents, and especially aadA, sul1, and class A beta lactamase genes showed significantly increased abundance in the river water of downstream compared to upstream locations (p < 0.05). However, this was not the case for the sediment, biofilm, and amphipod gut habitats. Accordingly, evidence for accumulation or enrichment of ARGs through the riverine food web was not identified. Our study suggests that monitoring riverine antimicrobial resistance determinants could be conducted using “co-occurrence” of aadA, sul1, and class A beta lactamase genes as an indicator of wastewater-related pollution and should focus on the water as the most affected habitat.43 weeks ago
- Scripts for: Automated single species identification in camera trap images: architecture choice, training strategies, and the interpretation of performance metrics, Burkard et al. (2024) EcoEvoRxiv (https://doi.org/10.32942/X2VW4V). A pipeline developed to train, evaluate and apply computer vision models to recognize the grey heron (Ardea cinerea) in camera trap data. Methods are described in preprint Burkard et al. (2024). Models trained and compared are a classification algorithm (MobileNetV2) and an object detection algorithm (YOLOv5x6).23 weeks ago
- In fünf Einzugsgebieten (EZG) der Schweiz wurden die mittelgrossen Fliessgewässer und die Abläufe der jeweils einzigen Abwasserreinigungsanlage (ARA) im EZG umfassend auf Pestizide untersucht. Die untersuchten Standorte haben eher hohe Siedlungs-, Landwirtschafts- und Abwasseranteile und die fünf ARA verfügten über keine Reinigungsstufe zur Elimination von Mikroverunreinigungen (MV). Von 253 untersuchten Wirkstoffen wurden 135 nachgewiesen (mittlere Anzahl: 32 Substanzen pro Probe), wobei 23 Stoffe in mindestens einer Probe die chronischen ökotoxikologischen Qualitätskriterien überschritten, und die meisten Überschreitungen auf Insektizide zurückzuführen waren. Bei 4 der 5 Standorte wurde ein hohes, über mehrere Wochen andauerndes Risiko für Gewässerorganismen festgestellt. Insgesamt wurde deutlich, dass der Eintrag über ARA ohne MV-Stufe an den beprobten Standorten mit hohem Abwasseranteil substanziell zur Pestizidbelastung der Fliessgewässer beiträgt. Die Einträge der risikobestimmenden Wirkstoffe erfolgten sowohl diffus aus dem EZG als auch über die ARA. Auch die meisten anderen Wirkstoffe wurden sowohl diffus wie auch über ARA eingetragen. Von allen nachgewiesenen Wirkstoffen wurden lediglich 28 zum über nur einen der beiden Eintragspfade (> 80 % der Fracht) in die Gewässer eingetragen.33 weeks ago
- In microbial communities, evolutionary processes can lead to loss of biosynthetic pathways, creating metabolic dependencies. The Black Queen Hypothesis suggests that such gene loss can confer a fitness advantage by reducing metabolic burden. However, how these dependencies evolve at the level of individual cells in spatially structured communities remains poorly understood. We used a combination of microfluidic single-cell imaging and mathematical modeling to examine the early fate of auxotrophic mutants within E. coli populations. We found that without external amino acids, auxotroph growth is strongly constrained by low amino acid leakage from wildtype neighbors, and further reduced when they form local clusters that drain this limited amino acid pool. A growth advantage was only observed when amino acids were added or when leakage from wildtypes exceeded a threshold. Together, our results reveal insights into determinants of mutant invasion fitness and the trade-offs between reducing metabolic costs and maintaining metabolic autonomy.53 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in July 2022 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targeting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targeting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW93 weeks ago
- Adaptive radiations represent some of the most remarkable explosions of diversification across the tree of life. However, the constraints to rapid diversification and how they are sometimes overcome, particularly the relative roles of genetic architecture and hybridization, remain unclear. Here, we address these questions in the Alpine whitefish radiation, using a whole-genome dataset that includes multiple individuals of each of the 22 species belonging to six ecologically distinct ecomorph classes across several lake-systems. We reveal that repeated ecological and morphological diversification along a common environmental axis is associated with both genome-wide allele frequency shifts and a specific, larger effect, locus, associated with the gene edar. Additionally, we highlight the possible role of introgression between species from different lake-systems in facilitating the evolution and persistence of species with unique trait combinations and ecology. These results highlight the importance of both genome architecture and secondary contact with hybridization in fuelling adaptive radiation.63 weeks ago
- Biological activated carbon (BAC) filters can be used as post-treatment for greywater to remove residual total organic carbon (TOC). The two main TOC removal processes are adsorption to the GAC and biological degradation. Biodegradation leads to the growth of microorganisms in the filter bed that can lead to increased pressure loss over the filter bed. However, the importance of sorption and biodegradation and how they complement each other is unclear for long-term TOC removal. In this study, we monitored TOC removal in a BAC filter that followed a membrane bioreactor for greywater treatment over more than 900 days. The removal performance depended on the operational time of the BAC filter, the influent TOC concentration, and for the upper part of the filter on the empty bed contact time (EBCT). For the overall filter, the EBCT did not significantly influence the TOC removal, showing that it was designed sufficiently large for the different flow rates observed. The analysis of the long-term data revealed equal importance of sorption and biodegradation if considered over the whole operation period and the whole filter bed. In the upper part of the filter, where most of the TOC was removed, TOC was mainly removed by biodegradation. In the lower part of the filter, sorption capacity remained and allowed to buffer high influent TOC concentrations. The generous filter design with low average filtration rate ensured long-term TOC removal. Backwashing, as the only maintenance needed, was required only after more than 800 days of operation. Backwashing the BAC filter effectively reduced the pressure loss but had no significant influence on the effluent water quality. With this study, we could show that BAC filters are a suitable post-treatment step for greywater treatment with its highly variable flow and TOC concentrations.23 weeks ago
- Cleaned CTD profiles, where only profiles that were complete between 1 m and 16 m were used. Additional measurements after a full profile were deleted, as well as doubled measurements at the same depth. Measurement errors are not removed: such as negative Chl-a/PAR/... values. The data still needs to be cleaned for that.23 weeks ago
- # Description Spot samples were taken and analysed in a quarterly rhythm at eight different stations distributed all over Switzerland from 1965 to 1973. - Aare - Bern, Felsenau - Aare - Beznau - Broye - Payerne - Doubs - Ocourt - Inn - Martinsbruck - Rhein - Sankt Margarethen - Rhône - Aïre -Rhône - Porte du Scex # Monitoring Program In those samples, physical, geochemical and anthropogenic parameters were measured. # Origin of Data Data publication in the Hydrological Yearbook of Switzerland FOEN.53 weeks ago
- Data for: The entire lifetime of a distinct double-diffusive staircase in crater Lake Nyos, CameroonThese CTD profiles were acquired with the intention of documenting the degassing of Lake Nyos. It was however soon realized that the density profiles showed the rare and unusual patterns of almost homogenised “mixed layers”, which are an indication of double diffusion. The phenomenon was triggered by the subaquatic sources, which release warm salty and CO2-rich water. Motivated by this observation, we continued profiling until the double-diffusive process came to an end. This publication in Environmental Fluid Mechanics presents the documentation of this time-limited unusual phenomenon.93 weeks ago
- This package contains data for the paper "How to reduce agricultural pesticide risks? An evaluation of policy mixes considering stakeholder preferences and uncertain consequences" Paper abstract: CONTEXT: Pesticide use in agriculture is a pressing but complex sustainability problem. It involves various stakeholders and trade-offs between health, environmental, agroeconomic, and sociopolitical objectives. OBJECTIVE: To address the problem, effective policy mixes must be designed. For this, they must be evaluated for their probability of achieving the diverse objectives, considering stakeholder preferences for trade-offs and risks. Previous studies have evaluated the coherence of objectives and the consistency and congruence of instruments to assess the effectiveness of policy mixes. However, they overlook the influence of nondesign activities in policy formulation that are shaped by interests. To grasp the full potential of policy mixes, evaluations must consider stakeholder preferences and measure consequences across multiple objectives. This study aims to conduct such an evaluation. METHODS: We adapted a participatory multicriteria decision analysis using multiattribute value and utility theory to evaluate seven mixes of policy instruments for reducing agricultural pesticide risks in Switzerland. Our evaluation included the consequences of the policy mixes for 16 objectives, predicted from expert interviews and literature, and the preferences of stakeholders in economy, administration, and civil society. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Stakeholder preferences, including rarely considered attitudes toward the risks of gains and losses for specific objectives, were decisive for the performance of the policy mixes. Despite conflicting preferences and high uncertainty, we found that one policy mix of risk-based tax incentives on pesticide use and an adapted pesticide approval process performed best for all. This finding was surprising given the limited support from some stakeholders for the tax incentives when asked directly. We conclude that a value-based evaluation of policy mixes could enrich policy choice architecture. SIGNIFICANCE: Focusing on stakeholders’ preferences for achieving policy objectives can inform decision-making by identifying effective policy mixes with a potential for consensus in contentious debates about how to reduce agricultural pesticide risks.33 weeks ago
- ## There is a [newer version of this dataset](https://doi.org/10.25678/00050C)! The “National Long-term Surveillance of Swiss Rivers” (NADUF) program was initiated in 1972 as a cooperative project between three institutes: + [Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)](https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/en/home.html) + [Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG)](https://www.eawag.ch) + [Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)](https://www.wsl.ch/en.html) (since 2003) With the NADUF program, the chemical-physical state of Swiss rivers as well as intermediate-term and long-term changes in concentration are observed. Furthermore, it provides data for scientific studies on biological, chemical and physical processes in river water. The NADUF network serves as a basic data and sampling facility to evaluate the effectiveness of water protection measures and for various scientific projects.123 weeks ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. This data package contains raw data from the DSPC also known as "Aquascope". These data were collected in July 2018 at a depth of 3m in Lake Greifensee, Switzerland. The DSPC gathered images at 5x magnification (5p0xMAG - targetting phytoplankton), and at 0.5x magnification (0p5xMAG, targetting zooplankton). More information .... https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117524 https://doi.org/10.25678/0004BW113 weeks ago
- Repository containing Genbank files predicted from GlobDBr226 (https://globdb.org/home). The files: - Maintain the same filename as the GlobDB genomes - Have been predicted by Prokka v1.14.5 selecting either the kingdom based on GlobDBr226 taxonomic annotations (in case of unclassified MAG the kingdom "Bacteria" was assumed) Important: Since the protein files have been predicted indipendently from the official GlobDB database (which relied on Prokka within an Anvi'o workflow), there might be small differences in loci names and predicted proteins.323 weeks ago
- During oxidative water treatment, nitrate can be formed as stable end-product of dissolved or-ganic nitrogen (DON) compounds. A better understanding of the reactivity between DON mod-el compounds and ozone can be achieved by analyzing the 15N/14N isotope composition of the formed nitrate. In this study, we developed an analytical approach based on existing redox con-version of nitrate (NO3-) to N2O by TiCl3, using a membrane inlet system followed by laser spectroscopy to analyze 14N/l5N in N2O at natural abundance levels (Figure 1). Two types of laser spectrometers were used, depending on the target NO3- concentrations. First, a quantum cascade laser absorption spectrometer (QCLAS) was applied for NO3- at 50 – 200 µM. Best performance was observed with 50 µM NO3-, with offset between actual and meas-ured δ15N values of 0.82 – 2.3 ‰ for four NO3- isotope standards ranging from -50.47 – 13.69 ‰ (Figure 2). Therefore, samples during ozonation of DON that contained NO3- concentration above 50 µM were diluted to 50 µM before conversion and analysis. Second, a cavity ring down spectrometer (CRDS) was tested for NO3- analysis at lower concentrations (3 - 6 µM). The performance in terms of accuracy and precision improved as the NO3- concentration in-creased (Figure 3). To stay within the operation range of the CRDS (1500 ppb of N2O), NO3- concentrations higher than 5 µM are not recommended, thus samples at higher concentration were diluted. At 5 µM NO3- concentration, offsets between actual and measured δ15N values were 1.7 – 2.6 ‰ for NO3- isotope standards ranging from -50.47 – 13.69 ‰ (Figure 3). The effect of natural organic matter was tested and showed minimal effects on the analysis of δ15N in NO3-. Overall, the developed chemical conversion and laser spectroscopic analysis technique is capa-ble of fast measurement of δ15N- NO3- in aqueous samples with acceptable accuracy at natural abundance levels, across a wide concentration range and even in complex water matrix.33 weeks ago
- Noble-gas and tritium data from NAQUA stations, including derived paramters (noble-gas temperature, excess air, terrigenic helium concentration, 3H/3He age)23 weeks ago
- This package contains data for the paper "Does (dis-)agreement reflect beliefs? An analysis of advocacy coalitions in Swiss pesticide policy". Paper abstract: Agricultural pesticide use is a wicked sustainability challenge: Trade-offs exist between health, environmental, agro-economic, and socio-political objectives. Various actors involved have diverse beliefs regarding these trade-offs and policies to address the challenge. But to what extent does the agreement or disagreement between actors reflect belief similarities or differences, and thus, the formation of advocacy coalitions? To answer this question, the study draws on the Advocacy Coalition Framework and investigates data from 54 key actors in the case of Swiss pesticide policy. The study explores the relationship between the actors’ (dis)agreement relations and their beliefs using Random Forests. Coalitions are identified through block modeling and beliefs based on Multi-Attribute Value Theory. The study shows that the two relations are a good proxy for identifying coalitions with conflict lines concerning beliefs and presents an approach to exploring ideological reasons behind (dis)agreement relations that supports identifying conflicting beliefs relevant to future policy solutions.42 years ago
- In the framework of Ch2018, climate simulations were done in twenty-nine Swiss lakes, with three climate scenarios, and seventeen climate models from the start of 1981 to end of 2099. Lake variables in this dataset (temperature, stratification, ice cover) was obtain with the physical deterministic lake model Simstrat (v. 2.1.2).42 years ago
- **There is [an older version](https://doi.org/10.25678/000044) of this dataset.** The dataset contains concentrations profiles of 213 agricultural pesticides in surface water samples. Half-day composite samples were taken from five small streams in Switzerland from the beginning of March to the end of August 2015. Half-day samples from discharge events were measured individually, whereas half-day samples taken during dry weather periods between discharge events were pooled to samples of variable lengths (five days on average) and then measured resulting in 34 to 60 measured samples per site.12 years ago
- Data that is plotted in Ziemba, C., Sharma, P., Ahrens, T., Reynaert, E. and Morgenroth, E. (2021) Disruptions in loading and aeration impact effluent chlorine demand during biological greywater recycling. Water Research X, 10008722 years ago
- **There is [an older version](https://doi.org/10.25678/0000AA) of this dataset.** This package contains a summary of data from published literature used as prior knowledge, fittings of the best three models per chemical as well as all matlab model files and an extensive result summary12 years ago
- Ozone, electrolysis and granular activated carbon (GAC) were examined as potential post-treatments to follow a household-scale biologically activated membrane bioreactor (BAMBi), treating a wash water containing trace urine and feces contamination. Each post-treatment was evaluated for abilities and reaction preferences to remove or transform dissolved organic carbon (DOC), chemical structures that contribute color, and assimilable organic carbon (AOC), which can support bacterial regrowth. Batch treatment with each technology demonstrated an ability to remove ≥95% DOC. Ozone demonstrated a reaction selectivity through increased reaction rates with larger compounds and color-contributing compounds. Electrolysis and GAC demonstrated generally less-selective reactivity. Adding post-treatments to full-scale systems reduced DOC (55-91%), AOC (34-62%), and color (75-98%), without significant reaction selectivity. These reductions in DOC and AOC were not linked to reduction of bacterial concentrations in treated water. Reductions in bacterial concentrations were observed with ozone and electrolysis, but this is credited to oxidation chemicals produced in these systems and not the removal or transformations of organic materials.22 years ago
- # Description Along river Glatt and river Chriesbach, spot samples were taken in an approximately weekly rhythm at five different stations from June 1972 to April 1977. In those samples physical, geochemical, anthropogenic parameters and heavy metals were measured. # Aim This project served as a pilot project for new extensive chemical examinations of flowing waters with regard to: - sample taking - sample preservation - chemical analysis - data preparation - data storage - data analysis - assessment of the water bodies Apart from this, strongly polluted water from river Glatt was analyzed. # Data Files - Glatt-Rheinsfelden - Glatt-Opfikon - Glatt-Niederglatt - Glatt-Glattfelden - Glatt-Faellanden - Glatt-Aubruecke_Hagenholz - Chriesbach-Duebendorf # Structure of the Data Files - measured data - loads - annual average of concentrations and loads - graphs of time series of concentrations and loads # Data source Chemical data are from Eawag and discharge data are from AWEL and FOEN # Publication List - Zobrist J. et al. (2011): 77 Jahre Untersuchungen an der Glatt. gwa 9, 315-327. This publication contains furthermore all important constructions works which have been accomplished at river Glatt. - Zobrist J. et al. (1976): Charakterisierung des chemischen Zustandes der Glatt. gwa 56, 97-114.72 years ago
- # Description At the hydrological monitoring station Rhein - Schmitter aggregated samples were collected and analysed in an approximately weekly rhythm in 1972 and 1973. # Aim and Monitoring Program Based on the program of International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (IKSR) to analyse the input of nutrients from tributary waters into lake Bodensee, the hydrological monitoring station Rhein - Schmitter was equipped for continious water sampling, measuring and data recording. The samples were taken in a weekly rhythm and analysed at EAWAG on components of nitrogen and phosphor proportional to the discharge. At high water discharge (Q > 330 m3/sec) samples were collected in a lower cadence into a separate collector (samples may therefore overlap in collection time). Averages of water temperature, pH or conductivity originate from the continuous recording. The data were published in the Hydrological Yearbook of Switzerland. # Origin of Data Data publication in the Hydrological Yearbook of Switzerland FOEN.32 years ago
- The files contain the data and the R scripts needed to replicate the analysis of three case study urban water systems as described in: Manny, L. (2022) Socio-technical challenges towards data-driven and integrated urban water management: a socio-technical network approach. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2022.104360 Data-driven and integrated urban water management have been proposed to reduce surface water pollution in light of climate change and urbanization impacts. Besides technological innovation, data-driven and integrated management require information exchange among many actors, e.g., operators, engineers, or authorities. With the aim of achieving a more profound understanding of socio-technical infrastructures, such as urban water systems, I draw on the approach of socio-technical networks to study actors and infrastructure elements as well as multiple relations in-between. In this article, I investigate whether underlying socio-technical dependencies influence social interactions such as information exchange. More specifically related to data-driven and integrated management, I analyze potential challenges, such as organizational fragmentation, data access, and diverging perceptions. Based on empirical data from three case studies in Switzerland, I provide inferential results obtained from fitting exponential random graph models. Findings showed that actors’ relatedness to infrastructure elements affects their information exchange. Among the cases, the presence of the three challenges varied and is potentially contingent upon system size, organizational form, or progress in terms of data-driven and integrated management. Thus, incorporating a socio-technical perspective on social actors and infrastructure elements could help to improve policy design and implementation aiming to achieve more sustainable cities.33 years ago
- Surface runoff represents a major pathway for pesticide transport from agricultural areas to surface waters. The influence of man-made structures (e.g. roads, hedges, ditches) on surface runoff connectivity has been shown in various studies. In Switzerland, so-called hydraulic shortcuts (e.g. inlets and maintenance manholes of road or field storm drainage systems) have been shown to influence surface runoff connectivity and related pesticide transport. Their occurrence, and their influence on surface runoff and pesticide connectivity have however not been studied systematically. To address that deficit, we randomly selected 20 study areas (average size = 3.5 km2) throughout the Swiss plateau, representing arable cropping systems. We assessed shortcut occurrence in these study areas using three mapping methods: field mapping, drainage plans, and high-resolution aerial images. Surface runoff connectivity in the study areas was analysed using a 2x2 m digital elevation model and a multiple-flow algorithm. Parameter uncertainty affecting this analysis was addressed by a Monte Carlo simulation. With our approach, agricultural areas were divided into areas that are either directly connected to surface waters, indirectly (i.e. via hydraulic shortcuts), or not connected at all. Finally, the results of this connectivity analysis were scaled up to the national level using a regression model based on topographic descriptors and were then compared to an existing national connectivity model. Inlets of the road storm drainage system were identified as the main shortcuts. On average, we found 0.84 inlets and a total of 2.0 manholes per hectare of agricultural land. In the study catchments between 43 and 74 % of the agricultural area is connected to surface waters via hydraulic shortcuts. On the national level, this fraction is similar and lies between 47 and 60 %. Considering our empirical observations led to shifts in estimated fractions of connected areas compared to the previous connectivity model. The differences were most pronounced in flat areas of river valleys. These numbers suggest that transport through hydraulic shortcuts is an important pesticide flow path in a landscape where many engineered structures exist to drain excess water from fields and roads. However, this transport process is currently not considered in Swiss pesticide legislation and authorisation. Therefore, current regulations may fall short to address the full extent of the pesticide problem. However, independent measurements of water flow and pesticide transport to quantify the contribution of shortcuts and validating the model results are lacking. Overall, the findings highlight the relevance of better understanding the connectivity between fields and receiving waters and the underlying factors and physical structures in the landscape.23 years ago
- This dataset contains aerial images and digital surface models of 19 out of 20 hydrological subcatchments analysed in the project "Shortcut". The subcatchments mostly lie in rural areas of the Swiss midlands and the datasets were obtained by flights with an eBee drone (SenseFly) between October 2017 and August 2018. The resolutions of the aerial images and the digital surface models lie between 2cm/pixel and 5cm/pixel, depending on the catchment. The aerial images in this dataset were used for the publication "Hydraulic Shortcuts Increase the Connectivity of Arable Land Areas to Surface Waters" (Schönenberger, U. & Stamm C, 2021)". The publication, supporting information, datasets, and codes can be found on the Eawag Research Data Institutional Repository (DOI: 10.25678/0003J3).803 years ago
- Two data sets collected in Hanoi, Vietnam and Kampala, Uganda on faecal sludge quantities and qualities63 years ago
- Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) treatment is an emerging technology for the valorisation of nutrients from biowaste. Selecting suitable substrates for BSFL treatment is a frequent challenge for researchers and practitioners. We conducted a systematic assessment of BSFL treatment substrates in Nairobi, Kenya to source more substrate for upscaling an existing BSFL treatment facility. The applied approach is universal and considers four criteria: 1) substrate availability and costs, 2) BSFL process performance, 3) product safety, and 4) waste recovery hierarchy. Data were collected from previous waste assessments or semi-structured key informant interviews and sight tours of waste producers. Waste nutritional composition and BSFL process performance metrics were summarised in the “BSFL Substrate Explorer”, an open-access web application that should facilitate the replication of such assessments. We show that most biowaste in Nairobi is currently not available for facility upscaling due to contamination with inorganics and a lack of affordable waste collection services. A mixture of human faeces, animal manure, fruit/vegetable waste, and food waste (with inorganics) should be pursued for upscaling. These wastes tend to have a lower treatment performance, but in contrast to cereal-based byproducts, food industry byproducts, and segregated food waste, there is no conflict with animal feed utilization. The traceability of substrates, source control, and post-harvest processing of larvae are required to ensure feed safety. The criteria presented here ensures the design of BSFL treatment facilities based on realistic performance estimates, the production of safe insect-based products, and environmental benefits of products compared to the status quo.23 years ago
- This package includes the data and Python files for the publication "Non‐Gaussian parameter inference for hydrogeological models using Stein Variational Gradient Descent".53 years ago
- Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are implicated as hotspots for the dissemination of antibacterial resistance into the environment. However, the in situ processes governing removal, persistence, and evolution of resistance genes during wastewater treatment remain poorly understood. Here, we used quantitative metagenomic and metatranscriptomic approaches to achieve a broad-spectrum view of the flow and expression of genes related to antibacterial resistance to over 20 classes of antibiotics, 65 biocides, and 22 metals. All compartments of 12 WWTPs share persistent resistance genes with detectable transcriptional activities that were comparatively higher in the secondary effluent, where mobility genes also show higher relative abundance and expression ratios. The richness and abundance of resistance genes vary greatly across metagenomes from different treatment compartments, and their relative and absolute abundances correlate with bacterial community composition and biomass concentration. No strong drivers of resistome composition could be identified among the chemical stressors analyzed, although the sub-inhibitory concentration (hundreds of ng/L) of macrolide antibiotics in wastewater correlates with macrolide and vancomycin resistance genes. Contig-based analysis shows considerable co-localization between resistance and mobility genes and implies a history of substantial horizontal resistance transfer involving human bacterial pathogens. Based on these findings, we propose future inclusion of mobility incidence (M%) and host pathogenicity of antibiotic resistance genes in their quantitative health risk ranking models with an ultimate goal to assess the biological significance of wastewater resistomes with regard to disease control in humans or domestic livestock.153 years ago
- This package provides material related to the paper `B. Hadengue, A. Scheidegger, E. Morgenroth, T.A. Larsen, Modeling the Water-Energy Nexus in Households, Energy & Buildings (2020), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110262` Various scripts and code, as well as raw results, are included. ### Paper Abstract One third of the global carbon emissions are emitted by the building sector. Over the last decades, space heating loads have decreased in modern buildings, and domestic hot water (DHW) is now oftentimes the largest energy consumer in the household. We developed the WaterHub modeling framework to assess the potential of technologies or measures targeting DHW energy demand. The framework combines process-based technological models and stochastic water demand modeling in a modular way to allow for holistic simulations of complex DHW systems. In two rigorous tests of the modeling framework, we demonstrated the importance of water consumption dynamics in the modeling of DHW systems, showing that static modeling leads to underestimated heat losses and wrong energy consumption predictions. In an exemplary case study, we identified and quantified the synergistic interactions between water boiler temperatures and a drain water heat recovery device, demonstrating the strength of this methodology for optimizing strategies targeting DHW systems. With its modular structure, this open-source modeling framework can be extended to include any DHW-related technology, providing a useful common platform for collaboration between technology developers and water experts.33 years ago
- Interactive annotation tool that allows to perform labelling procedure of both time series and 2D data.33 years ago
- Sensor maintenance is time-consuming and is a bottleneck for monitoring on-site wastewater treatment systems. Hence, we compare maintained and unmaintained sensors to monitor the biological performance of a small-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The sensor types are ion-selective pH, optical dissolved oxygen (DO), and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) with platinum electrode. We created soft sensors using engineered features: ammonium valley for pH, oxidation ramp for DO, and nitrite ramp for the ORP. Four soft sensors based on unmaintained pH sensors correctly identified the completion of the ammonium oxidation (89 to 91 out of 107 cycles), about as many times as soft sensors based on a maintained pH sensor (91 out of 107 cycles). In contrast, the DO soft sensor using data from a maintained sensor showed slightly better (89 out of 96 cycles) detection performance than that using data from two unmaintained sensors (77, respectively 82 out of 96 correct). Furthermore, the DO soft sensor using maintained data is much less sensitive to the optimisation of cut-off frequency and slope tolerance than the soft sensor using unmaintained data. The nitrite ramp provided no useful information on the state of nitrite oxidation, so no comparison of maintained and unmaintained ORP sensors was possible in this case. We identified two hurdles when designing soft sensors for unmaintained sensors: i) Sensors’ type- and design-specific deterioration affects performance. ii) Feature engineering for soft sensors is sensor type specific, and the outcome is strongly influenced by operational parameters such as the aeration rate. In summary, the results with the provided soft sensors show that frequent sensor maintenance is not necessarily needed to monitor the performance of SBRs. Without sensor maintenance monitoring smalls-scale SBRs becomes practicable, which could improve the reliability of unstaffed on-site treatment systems substantially.23 years ago
- Mooring with temperature and pressure loggers on lake Sils to observe ice growing and inverse stratification23 years ago
- This repository contains the source code and output files for the corresponding publication. Unfortunately, the reproduction also requires a DeeSse license. The latter can be obtained free of charge for academic purposes on http://www.randlab.org/research/deesse/.123 years ago
- The dataset contains concentrations profiles of 217 agricultural pesticides in surface water samples. Five small streams in Switzerland were sampled from the beginning of March to mid October 2017 using 3.5 day composite samples resulting in 61 to 66 measured samples per site and a total of 313 samples.33 years ago
- ## There is a [newer version](https://doi.org/10.25678/00050C) of this dataset. **There is an [older version of this dataset](https://doi.org/10.25678/0001VP).** The “National Long-term Surveillance of Swiss Rivers” (NADUF) program was initiated in 1972 as a cooperative project between three institutes: + [Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)](https://www.bafu.admin.ch/bafu/en/home.html) + [Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG)](https://www.eawag.ch) + [Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)](https://www.wsl.ch/en.html) (since 2003) The following institutes participated later: + [Amt für Umwelt und Energie des Kantons Basel-Stadt (AUE)](https://www.aue.bs.ch) + [Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS)](https://www.metas.ch/metas/en/home.html) With the NADUF program, the chemical-physical state of Swiss rivers as well as intermediate-term and long-term changes in concentration are observed. Furthermore, it provides data for scientific studies on biological, chemical and physical processes in river water. The NADUF network serves as a basic data and sampling facility to evaluate the effectiveness of water protection measures and for various scientific projects.123 years ago
- This study presents a novel concept for estimating net ecosystem production (NEP), the export of organic carbon (OC) from the productive surface layer to the deep-water (hypolimnion) of eleven seasonally stratified lakes, varying in depth and trophic state. As oxygen remineralizes settling OC at a constant ratio, NEP is equivalent to the areal hypolimnetic mineralization rate (AHM) plus burial in the sediment (net sedimentation, NS). Two major interferences have to be considered, however. First, OC from terrestrial sources, not originating from primary production, consumes a fraction of oxidants. Second, sediment diagenetic processes of lakes in trophic transition (e.g. undergoing eutrophication or reoligotrophication) that are not in quasi-steady-state with actual fluxes of OC in the productive surface layer, bias the estimation of NEP. In these cases, we suggest subtracting the flux of reduced substances diffusing from the sediment. This results in some overestimation for lakes with high allochthonous loads, and slight underestimation in lakes that are not in quasi-steady-state, because the fraction of the actual sediment burial of autochthonous OC is small but not negligible. The presented approach requires data from routinely available chemical monitoring and thus can be applied to historic data. The seasonal time integration makes the estimation of NEP quite robust. Exemplary, NEP of Lake Geneva was estimated from the export of P and N from the productive zone during the summer season to the hypolimnion assembling seasonal budgets. Based on a historic data record of 47 years, NEP estimations from AHM rates agreed well with P and N budgets and helped to verify and constrain the uncertainty of the estimates.23 years ago
- In freshwater lakes, large amounts of methane are formed in anoxic sediments. Methane-oxidizing bacteria effectively convert this potent greenhouse gas into biomass and carbon dioxide. These bacteria are present throughout the water column where methane concentrations can range from nanomolar to millimolar concentrations. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that methanotroph assemblages in a seasonally stratified lake exhibit contrasting methane oxidation kinetics in the methane-rich hypolimnion compared to the epilimnion with low methane concentrations. We further examined the change of methane oxidation kinetics during autumn overturn as more methane becomes available in the epilimnion. Together with the change of methane oxidation kinetics, we investigated changes in the transcription of genes encoding the methane monooxygenase (MMO), which is the enzyme responsible for the first step of methane oxidation. We show that the half-saturation constant (Km) obtained from laboratory experiments with the natural microbial community differed by two orders of magnitude between epi- and hypolimnion during stable stratification. During lake overturn, however, the kinetic constants at the lake surface and in the deep-water converged along with a change of the methanotroph assemblage. Conventional particulate MMO seemed responsible for the methane-oxidation under different methane concentrations. Our results suggest that changing methane availability creates niches for methanotroph assemblages with well-adapted methane-oxidation kinetics. This rapid selection and succession of adapted lacustrine methanotroph assemblages seem to support that the reported high removal efficiency of more than 90% is maintained even under rapidly changing conditions during lake overturn. Consequently, only a small fraction of methane stored in the anoxic hypolimnion is emitted to the atmosphere.143 years ago
- This study assessed the acute and chronic risk of pesticides, singly and as mixtures, for fish using comprehensive chemical data of four monitoring studies conducted in small- and medium-sized streams of Switzerland between 2012 and 2018. Pesticides were ranked based on single substance risk quotients and relative contribution to mixture risk. Concentrations of the pyrethroid insecti-cides, λ-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin and deltamethrin, and the fungicides, carbendazim and fenpropimorph, posed acute or chronic single substance risks. Risk quotients of eighteen addi-tional pesticides were equal or greater than 0.1, and thirteen of those contributed ≥30% to mixture risk. Relatively few substances dominated the mixture risk in most water samples, with chronic and acute maximum cumulative ratios never exceeding 5 and 7, respectively. A literature review of toxicity data showed that concentrations of several pesticides detected in Swiss streams were sufficient to cause direct sublethal effects on fish in laboratory studies. Based on the results of our study, we conclude that pesticides detected in Swiss streams, especially pyrethroid insecticides, fungicides and pesticide mixtures, pose a risk to fish health and can cause direct sublethal effects at environmental concentrations. Sensitive life stages of species with highly specialized life histo-ry traits may be particularly vulnerable; however, the lack of toxicity data for non-model species currently prevents a conclusive assessment across species.33 years ago
- Autotrophic nitrogen removal by anaerobic ammonium oxidizing (anammox) bacteria is an energy-efficient nitrogen removal process in wastewater treatment. However, full-scale deployment under mainstream conditions remains challenging for practitioners due to the high stress susceptibility of anammox bacteria towards fluctuations in dissolved oxygen (DO) and temperature. Here, we investigated the response of microbial biofilms with verified anammox activity to DO shocks under 20 °C and 14 °C. While pulse disturbances of 0.3 mg L−1 DO prompted only moderate declines in the NH4+ removal rates, 1.0 mg L−1 DO led to complete but reversible inhibition of the NH4+ removal activity in all reactors. Genome-centric metagenomics and metatranscriptomics were used to investigate the stress response on various biological levels. We show that temperature regime and strength of DO perturbations induced divergent responses from the process level down to the transcriptional profile of individual taxa. Community-wide gene expression differed significantly depending on the temperature regime in all reactors, and we found a noticeable impact of DO disturbances on genes involved in transcription, translation, replication and posttranslational modification at 20 °C but not 14 °C. Genome-centric analysis revealed that different anammox species and other key biofilm taxa differed in their transcriptional responses to distinct temperature regimes and DO disturbances.23 years ago
- A software code to retrieve the uncertainty from lineralized hard X-ray chemcial images. The code is written in R and uses a Markov Chain implemented through the package rjags.23 years ago
- Aquasim model for Biofilm Modelling chapter (Chapter 17 by Eberhard Morgenroth)33 years ago
- Estimates of accumulated quantities and qualities (Q&Q) of faecal sludge are essential for developing city-wide management plans. However, standardized approaches are lacking, and examples in scientific literature make use of diverse methodologies and parameters, making their comparability and transferability difficult. This study field-tested an approach for estimating Q&Q in Sircilla, India, and compared three methods for measuring accumulated sludge: (1) faecal sludge accumulation rate from in situ measurement with a core sampler; (2) faecal sludge accumulation rate with volume emptied by desludging truck; and (3) sludge blanket accumulation rate with a core sampler. Measurements were taken at households and commercial establishments, samples were analysed for characteristics, and demographic, environmental, and technical data were collected with a questionnaire. The median TS, VS, and COD concentrations for all containments were 26.8, 17.8, and 32.0 g/L, respectively. The median faecal sludge accumulation rate estimated with the core sampler and truck were 53 and 96 L/cap·year, respectively. The median sludge blanket accumulation rate was 17 L/cap·year. Continued data collection in this fashion will lead to a better understanding of what is accumulating in onsite containments at regional levels.33 years ago
- Pesticides used in agriculture can end up in nearby streams and can have a negative impact on nontarget organisms such as aquatic invertebrates. During registration, bioaccumulation potential is often investigated using laboratory tests only. Recent studies showed that the magnitude of bioaccumulation in the field substantially differs from laboratory conditions. To investigate this discrepancy, we conducted a field bioaccumulation study in a stream known to receive pollutant loadings from agriculture. Our work incorporates measurements of stream pesticide concentrations at high temporal resolution (every 20 min), as well as sediment, leaves, and caged gammarid analyses (every 2-24 h) over several weeks. Of 49 investigated pesticides, 14 were detected in gammarids with highly variable concentrations of up to 140 ± 28 ng/gww. Toxicokinetic modeling using laboratory-derived uptake and depuration rate constants for azoxystrobin, cyprodinil, and fluopyram showed that despite the highly resolved water concentrations measured, the pesticide burden on gammarids remains underestimated by a factor of 1.9 ± 0.1 to 31 ± 3.0, with the highest underestimations occurring after rain events. Including dietary uptake from polluted detritus leaves and sediment in the model explained this underestimation only to a minor proportion. However, suspended solids analyzed during rain events had high pesticide concentrations, and uptake from them could partially explain the underestimation after rain events. Additional comparison between the measured and modeled data showed that the pesticide depuration in gammarids is slower in the field. This observation suggests that several unknown mechanisms may play a role, including lowered enzyme expression and mixture effects. Thus, it is important to conduct such retrospective risk assessments based on field investigations and adapt the registration accordingly.23 years ago
- This package contains data to an article about denitrification in groundwater. The data included are: 1. continuously analyzed (noble) gases and excess air model results of three different piezometers over a six-month period; 2. hydraulic conductivity and microbial activity analyzed at the piezometers (and the stream); 3. key parameters associated with denitrification (nitrate, alkalinity, O2, DOC, sulfate); 4. precipitation data and water level data of the stream and two piezometers.123 years ago
- Data sets on the percentage of virus transferred between fingers and water or saliva. Transfer with saliva is for both wet hands (where the virus inoculum was not allowed to appreciably dry before transfer) and for dry hands (where the virus inoculum was allowed to dry before transfer).33 years ago
- Chlorothalonil, a fungicide applied for decades worldwide, has recently been banned in the European Union (EU) and Switzerland due to its carcinogenicity and the presence of potentially toxic transformation products (TPs) in groundwater. The spread and concentration range of chlorothalonil TPs in different drinking water resources was examined (73 groundwater and four surface water samples mainly from Switzerland). The chlorothalonil sulfonic acid TPs (R471811, R419492, R417888) occurred more frequently and at higher concentrations (detected in 65-100% of the samples, ≤2200 ngL-1) than the phenolic TPs (SYN507900, SYN548580, R611968; detected in 10-30% of the samples, ≤130 ngL-1). The TP R471811 was found in all samples and even in 52% of the samples above 100 ngL-1, the drinking water standard in Switzerland and other European countries. Therefore, the abatement of chlorothalonil TPs was investigated in laboratory and pilot-scale experiments and along the treatment train of various water works, comprising aquifer recharge, UV disinfection, ozonation, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), activated carbon treatment, and reverse osmosis. The phenolic TPs can be abated during ozonation (second order rate constant kO3 ∼10^4 M-1s-1) and by reaction with hydroxyl radicals (OH) in AOPs (kOH ∼10^9 M-1s-1). In contrast, the sulfonic acid TPs, which occurred in higher concentrations in drinking water resources, react only very slowly with ozone (kO3 <0.04 M-1s-1) and OH (kOH <5.0 × 10^7 M-1s-1) and therefore persist in ozonation and OH-based AOPs. Activated carbon retained the very polar TP R471811 only up to a specific throughput of 25 m3kg-1 (20% breakthrough), similarly to the X-ray contrast agent diatrizoic acid. Reverse osmosis was capable of removing all chlorothalonil TPs by ≥98%.53 years ago
- Individual-level variation arising from responses to environmental gradients influences population and community dynamics. How such responses empirically relate to the mechanisms that govern species coexistence is, however, poorly understood. Previous results from lake phytoplankton communities suggested that the evenness of organismal traits in multiple dimensions increases with resource limitation, possibly due to resource partitioning at the individual level. Here we experimentally tested the emergence of this pattern by growing two phytoplankton species (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Microcystis aeruginosa) under a gradient of light intensity, in monoculture and jointly. Under low light (resource) conditions, the populations diversified into a wide range of phenotypes, which were evenly distributed in multidimensional trait space (defined by four pigment-related trait dimensions), consistent with the observed field pattern. Our interpretation is that under conditions of light limitation, individual phytoplankton cells alter photosynthetic traits to reduce overlap in light acquisition, acquiring unexploited resources and thereby likely maximising individual success. Our results provide prime experimental evidence that resource limitation increases the evenness of conspecific and heterospecific microbial phenotypes along trait axes, advancing our understanding of trait-based coexistence.23 years ago
- Data for: Thermodynamic Controls on Rates of Iron Oxide Reduction by Extracellular Electron ShuttlesAnaerobic microbial respiration in sub- and anoxic environments often involves particulate ferric iron (oxyhydr-)oxides as terminal electron acceptors. To ensure efficient respiration, a widespread strategy among iron-reducing microorganisms is the use of extracellular electron shuttles (EES) that transfer two electrons from the microbial cell to the iron oxide surface. Yet, a fundamental understanding of how EES-oxide redox thermodynamics affect rates of iron oxide reduction remains elusive. Attempts to rationalize rates of iron oxide reduction for different EES, solution pH, and iron oxides on the basis of the underlying reaction free energy of the two-electron transfer were unsuccessful. Here, we demonstrate that reduction rates determined in this work for different iron oxides and EES under varying solution chemistry can be reconciled with existing rate data when instead related to the free energy of the less exergonic (or even endergonic) first of the two electron transfers from the fully, two electron-reduced EES to oxide ferric iron. We show how free energy relationships aid in identifying controls on microbial iron oxide reduction by EES and, thereby, advance a more fundamental understanding of anaerobic respiration using iron oxides.53 years ago
- This package contains the data and code necessary to run the experiments for our paper "The Value of Human Data Annotation for Machine Learning1based Anomaly Detection in Environmental Systems".23 years ago
- Groundwater is a major drinking water resource but its quality with regard to organic micropollutants (MPs) is insufficiently assessed. Therefore, we aimed to investigate Swiss groundwater more comprehensively using liquid chromatography high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS). First, samples from 60 sites were classified as having high or low urban or agricultural influence based on 498 target compounds associated with either urban or agricultural sources. Second, all LC-HRMS signals were related to their potential origin (urban, urban and agricultural, agricultural, or not classifiable) based on their occurrence and intensity in the classified samples. A considerable fraction of estimated concentrations associated with urban and/or agricultural sources could not be explained by the 139 detected targets. The most intense nontarget signals were automatically annotated with structure proposals using MetFrag and SIRIUS4/CSI:FingerID with a list of >988,000 compounds. Additionally, suspect screening was performed for 1162 compounds with predicted high groundwater mobility from primarily urban sources. Finally, 12 nontargets and 11 suspects were identified unequivocally (Level 1), while 17 further compounds were tentatively identified (Level 2a/3). amongst these were 13 pollutants thus far not reported in groundwater, such as: the industrial chemicals 2,5-dichlorobenzenesulfonic acid (19 detections, up to 100 ng L-1), phenylphosponic acid (10 detections, up to 50 ng L-1), triisopropanolamine borate (2 detections, up to 40 ng L-1), O-des[2-aminoethyl]-O-carboxymethyl dehydroamlodipine, a transformation product (TP) of the blood pressure regulator amlodipine (17 detections), and the TP SYN542490 of the herbicide metolachlor (Level 3, 33 detections, estimated concentrations up to 100–500 ng L-1). One monitoring site was far more contaminated than other sites based on estimated total concentrations of potential MPs, which was supported by the elucidation of site-specific nontarget signals such as the carcinogen chlorendic acid, and various naphthalenedisulfonic acids. Many compounds remained unknown, but overall, source related prioritisation proved an effective approach to support identification of compounds in groundwater.53 years ago
- This data is generic and can be used to identify locally appropriate sanitation system options and quantify corresponding resource recovery and loss potentials in any case. It has previously been used to generate sanitation system options and to quantify phosphorus, nitrogen, total solids, and water flows in 101'548 sanitation systems generated from 41 potential technologies appropriate for a small town (Katarnyia) in Nepal. Please contact us for any newer version of the dataset. The data contains a user instructions for the associated models and a catalogue of 41 technologies summarising appropriateness profiles and raw data on transfer coefficients. A csv file with a compilation of all data is made available for more convenient reuse.33 years ago
- The Dual Scripps Plankton Camera (DSPC) is a new approach for automated in-situ monitoring of phyto- and zooplankton communities based on a dual magnification dark-field imaging microscope. Here, we present the DSPC and its associated image processing while evaluating its capabilities in i) detecting and characterizing plankton species of different size and taxonomic categories and ii) measuring their abundance in both laboratory and field applications. In the laboratory, body size and abundance estimates by the DSPC significantly and robustly scaled with measurements derived by microscopy. In the field, a DSPC installed permanently at 3 m depth in Lake Greifensee (Switzerland) delivered images of plankton individuals, colonies, and heterospecific aggregates at hourly timescales without disrupting natural arrangements of interacting organisms, their microenvironment or their behavior. The DSPC was able to track the dynamics of taxa, mostly at the genus level, in the size range between ∼10 μm to ∼ 1 cm, covering many components of the planktonic food web (including parasites and potentially toxic cyanobacteria). Comparing data from the field-deployed DSPC to traditional sampling and microscopy revealed a general overall agreement in estimates of plankton diversity and abundances. The most significant disagreements between traditional methods and the DSPC resided in the measurements of zooplankton community properties. Our data suggest that the DSPC is better equipped to study the dynamics and demography of heterogeneously distributed organisms such as zooplankton, because high temporal resolution and continuous sampling offer more information and less variability in taxa detection and quantification than traditional sampling. Time series collected by the DSPC depicted ecological succession patterns, algal bloom dynamics and diel fluctuations with a temporal frequency and morphological resolution that was never observed by traditional methods. Access to high frequency, reproducible and real-time data of a large spectrum of the planktonic ecosystem can expand our understanding of both applied and fundamental plankton ecology. Our work leads us to conclude that the utilization of the DSPC is robust for both research and water quality monitoring and suitable for stable long-term deployments.33 years ago
- Anonymized data and R code needed to replicate the analysis presented in the study "Networks of Swiss water governance issues. Studying fit between media attention and organizational activity" to be published in Society & Natural Resources. The study looks at how relations between Swiss water governance issues are portrayed in the media as compared to the way organizations involved in water governance reflect these relations in their activity. This is a paper output of the SNF funded project "Overlapping subsystems". Access to the complete, non-anonymized dataset is restricted.73 years ago
- Since the output files for this publication were in excess of 300GB, this repository contains the python scripts required to re-create the output files for the corresponding publication. If you only need the output files directly, the first author can send you a hard drive with the raw output upon request.33 years ago
- Species interactions and coevolution are integral to ecological communities, but we lack empirical information on when and how these interactions generate and purge genetic diversity. Using genomic time series data from host-virus experiments, we found that coevolution occurs through consecutive selective sweeps in both species, with temporal consistency across replicates. Sweeps were accompanied by phenotypic change (resistance or infectivity increases) and expansions in population size. In the host, population expansion enabled rapid generation of genetic diversity in accordance with neutral processes. Viral molecular evolution was, in contrast, confined to few genes, all putative targets of selection. This study demonstrates that molecular evolution during species interactions is shaped by both eco-evolutionary feedback dynamics and interspecific differences in how genetic diversity is generated and maintained.43 years ago
- Public infrastructure decisions affect many stakeholders with various benefits and costs. For public decisions, it is crucial that decision-making processes and outcomes are fair. Fairness concepts have rarely been explored in public infrastructure planning. We close this gap for a global issue of growing importance: replacing sewer-based, centralized by decentralized wastewater systems. We empirically study fairness principles in this policy-relevant context, and identify possible influencing factors in a representative online survey of 472 Swiss German residents. In a transition phase, innovative, decentralized pilot wastewater systems are installed in households. We designed two vignettes for this context to test the adhesion to principles of distributive justice—equality, equity, and need—at individual and community level. A third vignette tests procedural justice with increasing fulfilment of fair process criteria. The results confirm our hypotheses: equity is perceived as fairer than equality at individual and collective levels. Contrary to expectations and literature, need is perceived as even fairer than equity. Procedural justice results confirm literature, e.g., the majority (92%) of respondents deems a policy fair that includes them in decision-making. Only few demographic and explanatory factors are significantly correlated with respondents’ fairness perceptions. Although unexpected, this is positive, implying that introducing decentralized wastewater technology can be designed for the entire population independent of characteristics of individuals. Generally, our results confirm literature: fairness perceptions depend on the circumstances. Hence, they should be elicited in the exact application context to be able to enter negotiation processes and provide concrete advice to decision-makers.83 years ago
- Mooring with temperature and pressure loggers on lake Greifen to observe ice growing and inverse stratification33 years ago
- Biofilms serve essential ecosystem functions and are used in different technical applications. Studies from stream ecology and waste water treatment have shown that biofilm functionality depends to a great extent on community structure. Here we present a fast and easy-to-use method for individual cell-based analysis of stream biofilms, based on stain-free flow cytometry and visualization of the high-dimensional data by viSNE. The method allows the combined assessment of community structure, decay of phototrophic organisms and presence of abiotic particles. In laboratory experiments, it allows quantification of cellular decay and detection of survival of larger cells after temperature stress, while in the field it enables detection of community structure changes that correlate with known environmental drivers (flow conditions, dissolved organic carbonDOC, calcium) and detection of microplastic contamination. The method can potentially be applied to other biofilm types, e.g. for inferring community structure for environmental and industrial research and monitoring.53 years ago
- We summarize the concept for ex-ante cost estimations for sanitation systems based on mass flows as developed within a Master thesis by Verena Germann in the framework of the GRASP project ([Generation and Assessment of Sanitation Systems for Strategic Planning](https://www.eawag.ch/en/department/sww/projects/grasp-generation-assessment-of-sanitation-systems-for-strategic-planning/)) by Dorothee Spuhler . The supporting information contains some illustrative examples for cost calculations for a set of sanitation systems for different areas in Arba Minch, a small town in Ethiopia.33 years ago
- Das Package beschreibt das Abluftmesssystem Notos zur Messung gasförmiger Emissionen aus Abwasserreinigungsanlagen in zeitlich und räumlich hoher Auflösung . Für die Fassung der Emissionen werden schwimmende Ablufthauben eingesetzt. Das System wurde an der Eawag und der ETH Zürich entwickelt.23 years ago
- This package contains the software code for online weight elicitation (Version : 0.9.4) and its admin interface (version 1.0.1). In Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis, weights are scaling constants representing the relative importance of the criteria. In this version, weight elicitation can be done with the swing method only, or with the swing method followed by the trade-off method and consistency check (with "learning loop"). The software can be used to send an online survey to many remote participants, or as an interactive tool during a facilitated workshop.83 years ago
- New technologies and processes, such as mainstream anammox, aim to reduce energy requirements of wastewater treatment and improve effluent quality. However, in municipal wastewater (MWW) anammox system are often unstable due to process control disturbance, influent variability, or unwanted nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB). This study examines the anammox system by focusing on anammox activity and its robustness in a mainstream environment. An 8 m3 pilot-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) receiving pretreated MWW (with external nitrite addition) was seeded with pre-colonized carriers. Within six months at 12–20 °C an anammox activity of 200 gN∙m-3∙d-1 was achieved. After the startup an anammox activity of 260 ± 83 gN∙m-3∙d-1 was maintained over 450 days. The robustness of the anammox activity was analyzed through three disturbance experiments. Anammox biofilm on carriers were exposed to dissolved oxygen (DO = 1.6 mg∙L-1, intermittent aeration), organic loading rate (OLR, C/N increased from 2:1 to 5:1) and temperature disturbances (20 °C to 12 °C) in triplicate 12 L bench scale reactors. The anammox activity and microbial community was monitored during these disturbances. The DO and OLR disturbance experiments were replicated at pilot scale to investigate upscaling effects. Bench and pilot scale anammox activity were unaffected by the DO disturbance. Similarly, an increase in OLR did not deteriorate the bench and pilot scale anammox activity, if nitrate was available. When, at bench scale, the reactor temperature was reduced from 20 °C to 12 °C overnight, anammox activity decreased significantly, this was not the case for the slow seasonal temperature changes (12–25 °C) at pilot scale where no strong temperature dependency was detected in winter. Metagenomic analysis revealed a broad range of Brocadiaceae species with no single dominant anammox species. Anammox thrive under mainstream conditions and can withstand typical process disruptions.23 years ago
- Code, data and maps associated with the article Podgorski, J., and M. Berg (2020), Global threat of arsenic in groundwater, Science, 368(6493), 845–850, doi:10.1126/science.aba1510.43 years ago
- Data and R scripts needed to replicate the analysis of law-driven versus actor-driven integration of issues in Swiss flood risk management, described in the study "Policy integration: Do laws or actors integrate issues in Swiss flood risk management?". Existing research emphasizes interdependencies between social and ecological systems in climate change adaptation. Ecological systems are often complex and span several policy issues that are not integrated in the social system. In order to increase the fit between social and ecological systems, understanding factors that promote the integration of interdependent issues is crucial. We analyze two bases for issue integration: a) political actors connecting issues and, b) the legal framework cross-referencing issues. We propose a network method for systematic comparisons of issue integration based on actors or laws. For the case of Swiss flood risk management, we find that actor- and law-based issue integration co-vary and might be self-reinforcing. We further find that issue integration mostly rests on laws, although cases exist where actors are the main basis of integration. Results promote our understanding of potential bases for the integration of policy issues, thereby contributing knowledge about adaptive governance capacities in social-ecological systems that buffer the effects of climate change.43 years ago
- Mooring with temperature and pressure loggers on lake Sihl to observe ice growing and inverse stratification33 years ago
- We propose to predict histograms of object sizes in crowded scenes directly without any explicit object instance segmentation. What makes this task challenging is the high density of objects (of the same category), which makes instance identification hard. Instead of explicitly segmenting object instances, we show that directly learning histograms of object sizes improves accuracy while using drastically less parameters. This is very useful for application scenarios where explicit, pixel-accurate instance segmentation is not needed, but there lies interest in the overall distribution of instance sizes. Our core applications are in biology, where we estimate the size distribution of soldier fly larvae, and medicine, where we estimate the size distribution of cancer cells as an intermediate step to calculate the tumor cellularity score. Given an image with hundreds of small object instances, we output the total count and the size histogram. We also provide a new data set for this task, the FlyLarvae data set, which consists of 11, 000 larvae instances labeled pixel-wise. Our method results in an overall improvement in the count and size distribution prediction as compared to state-of-the-art instance segmentation method Mask R-CNN [11].23 years ago
- As the demand for hydroelectricity progresses worldwide, small hydropower operators are increasingly examining the feasibility of using existing infrastructure (e.g. desander) in run-of-the-river schemes for intermittent power production. Such flexible production causes short-term discharge fluctuations (hydropeaking) in downstream reaches with potential adverse effects for the sensitive fauna and flora in alpine streams. In a field experiment on a previously unregulated section of the upper Rhone River (Switzerland), we measured density and composition of macroinvertebrate drift in two habitats (riffle, pool) following a 15-minute hydropeaking wave. The experimental hydropeaking was replicated five times over 14 days with decreasing recovery times between peaks (8 days, 3 days, 2 days, and 24 hours) and drift measurements were compared with kick samples for the benthic community. Results from the kick sampling showed that benthic macroinvertebrate abundance and composition did not significantly change between the experimental peaks. There were habitat specific reactions in macroinvertebrate drift to hydropeaking, with the pool experiencing more pronounced drift abundances than the riffle. We observed that drift abundance was not significantly correlated with recovery time but results indicate a reaction of some taxa to decreasing recovery times. This research may support water policy decision-makers to better understand the ecological impact of flexible power production in small hydropower plants, and advocates for the importance of completing more in-situ field experiments.143 years ago
- A package describing a off-gas monitoring system for wastewater treatment plants. The system uses floating flux chambers for a spatially highly resolved monitoring of compounds in wastewater reactor systems.23 years ago
- Members and partners of the Sewage analyses CORe group Europe - (SCORE) measured five illicit drug residues in wastewater 2011-2017 (every year one week). The data set covers in total 143 wastewater treatment plants in 120 cities from 37 countries, which were monitored at least once.73 years ago
- Mooring with temperature and pressure loggers on lake St.Moritz to observe ice growing and inverse stratification23 years ago
- **Dataset for MYSKAPADU:** Mystery Shopping, and Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Pesticides among Agro-Input Dealers in Uganda Including study tools to collect data, raw data, analysis scripts, analyzed outcomes and final data **Publication Title:** What agro-input dealers know, sell and say to smallholder farmers about pesticides: A mystery shopping and KAP analysis in Uganda. **Publication abstract:** **Background:** Pesticides can have negative effects on human and environmental health, especially when not handled as intended. In many countries, agro-input dealers sell pesticides to smallholder farmers and are supposed to provide recommendations on application and handling. This study investigates the role of agro-input dealers in transmitting safety information from chemical manufacturers to smallholder farmers, assesses the safety of their shops, what products they sell, and how agro-input dealers abide by laws and recommendations on best practices for preventing pesticide risk situations. **Methods:** Applying a mixed-methods approach, we studied agro-input dealers in Central and Western Uganda. Structured questionnaires were applied to understand agro-input dealers’ knowledge, attitude and practices on pesticides (n = 402). Shop layout (n = 392) and sales interaction (n = 236) were assessed through observations. Actual behavior of agro-input dealers when selling pesticides was revealed through mystery shopping with local farmers buying pesticides (n = 94). **Results:** While 97.0% of agro-input dealers considered advising customers their responsibility, only 26.6% of mystery shoppers received any advice from agro-input dealers when buying pesticides. 53.2% of products purchased were officially recommended. Sales interactions focused mainly on product choice and price. Agro-input dealers showed limited understanding of labels and active ingredients. Moreover, 25.0% of shops were selling repackaged products, while 10.5% sold unmarked or unlabeled products. 90.1% of shops were lacking safety equipment. Pesticides of World Health Organization toxicity class I and II were sold most frequently. Awareness of health effects seemed to be high, although agro-input dealers showed incomplete hygiene practices and were lacking infrastructure. One reason for these findings might be that only 55.7% of agro-input dealers held a certificate of competency on safe handling of pesticides and even fewer (5.7%) were able to provide a government-approved up-to-date license. **Conclusion:** The combination of interviews, mystery shopping and observations proved to be useful, allowing the comparison of stated and actual behavior. While agro-input dealers want to sell pesticides and provide the corresponding risk advice, their customers might receive neither the appropriate product nor sufficient advice on proper handling. In light of the expected increase in pesticide use, affordable, accessible and repeated pesticide training and shop inspections are indispensable.53 years ago
- Highly variable flow has to be expected in decentralized greywater treatment and can lead to intermittent operation of the treatment system. However, few studies have addressed the influence of variable flow on the treatment performance of a biological activated carbon filter (BAC). In this study, we investigated the influence of intermittent flow using small-scale BAC columns, which treat greywater as a second treatment step following a membrane bioreactor (MBR). Three operating strategies to respond to variable flow were evaluated. The activated carbon was characterized before and after the experiments in terms of biological activity and sorption capacity. The performance of the BAC filters was assessed based on total organic carbon (TOC) removal, TOC fractions and growth potential. No significant differences were observed between constant flow compared to on-off operation with intermittent flow over the range of tested influent concentrations. Peaks with high TOC during 24 h periods were attenuated by sorption and biological degradation. Adsorbed TOC was released after switching back to normal concentrations for influent concentrations more than 5 times higher than usually observed, the BAC functioned as a temporary sink. In line with these results, the high influent TOC values led to increased biological activity on the filter but did not influence the sorption capacity. The experiments showed that intermittent flow does not negatively impact the performance of a BAC and that there is no need for additional equalization tanks to buffer the variable flow, for example in household-scale greywater treatment.23 years ago
- The frequent contact people have with liquids containing pathogenic microorganisms provides opportunities for disease transmission. In this work, we quantified the transfer of bacteria - using E. coli as a model- from liquid to skin, estimated liquid retention on the skin after different contact activities (hand immersion, wet-cloth and wet-surface contact), and estimated liquid transfer following hand-to-mouth contacts. The results of our study show that the number of E. coli transferred to the skin per surface area (n [E. coli/cm2]) can be modeled using n = C (10-3.38+h), where C [E. coli/cm3] is the concentration of E. coli in the liquid, and h [cm] is the film thickness of the liquid retained on the skin. Findings from the E. coli transfer experiments reveal a significant difference between the transfer of E. coli from liquid to the skin and the previously reported transfer of viruses to the skin. Additionally, our results demonstrate that the time elapsed since the interaction significantly influences liquid retention, therefore modulating the risks associated with human interaction with contaminated liquids. The findings enhance our understanding of liquid-mediated disease transmission processes and provide quantitative estimates as inputs for microbial risk assessments.43 years ago
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from wastewater treatment contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. They have been shown to exhibit a strong seasonal and daily profile in previously conducted monitoring campaigns. However, only two year-long online monitoring campaigns have been published to date. Based on three monitoring campaigns on three full-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with different activated sludge configurations, each of which lasted at least one year, we propose a refined monitoring strategy for long-term emission monitoring with multiple flux chambers on open tanks. Our monitoring campaigns confirm that the N2O emissions exhibited a strong seasonal profile and were substantial on all three plants (1-2.4% of the total nitrogen load). These results confirm that N2O is the most important greenhouse gas emission from wastewater treatment. The temporal variation was more distinct than the spatial variation within aeration tanks. Nevertheless, multiple monitoring spots along a single lane are crucial to assess representative emission factors in flow-through systems. Sequencing batch reactor systems were shown to exhibit comparable emissions within one reactor but significant variation between parallel reactors. The results indicate that considerable emission differences between lanes are to be expected in cases of inhomogeneous loading and discontinuous feeding. For example, N2O emission could be shown to depend on the amount of treated reject water: lanes without emitted <1% of the influent load, while parallel lanes emitted around 3%. In case of inhomogeneous loading, monitoring of multiple lanes is required. Our study enables robust planning of monitoring campaigns on WWTPs with open tanks. Extensive full-scale emission monitoring campaigns are important as a basis for reliable decisions about reducing the climate impact of wastewater treatment. More specifically, such data sets help us to define general emission factors for wastewater treatment plants and to construct and critically evaluate N2O emission models.83 years ago
- Alpine streams can exhibit naturally high levels of flow intermittency. However, how flow intermittency in alpine streams affects ecosystem functions such as food web trophic structure is virtually unknown. Here, we characterized the trophic diversity of aquatic food webs in 28 headwater streams of the Val Roseg, a glacierized alpine catchment. We compared stable isotope (δ13C and δ15N) trophic indices to high temporal resolution data on flow intermittency. Overall trophic diversity, food chain length, and diversity of basal resource use did not differ to a large extent across streams. In contrast, gradient and mixing model analysis indicated that primary consumers assimilated proportionally more periphyton and less allochthonous organic matter in more intermittent streams. Higher coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) C:N ratios were an additional driver of changes in macroinvertebrate diets. These results indicate that the trophic base of stream food webs shifts away from terrestrial organic matter to autochthonous organic matter as flow intermittency increases, most likely due to reduced CPOM conditioning in dry streams. This study highlights the significant, yet gradual shifts in ecosystem function that occur as streamflow becomes more intermittent in alpine streams. As alpine streams become more intermittent, identifying which functional changes occur via gradual as opposed to threshold responses is likely to be vitally important to their management and conservation.23 years ago
- SARS-CoV-2 RNA (N1 and N2 genes) and PMMoV RNA concentrations in primary effluent from the ARA Werdhölzli were determined for the period of September 2020-January 2021. COVID-19 cases in the catchment area are also reported for comparison of RNA concentrations to clinical case data. Data are included in an analysis of COVID-19 disease trajectory overtime.33 years ago
- Biomass distribution among size classes follows a power law where the Log-abundance of taxa scales to Log-size with a slope that responds to environmental abiotic and biotic conditions. The interactions between ecological mechanisms controlling the slope of locally realized size-abundance relationships (SAR) are however not well understood. Here we tested how warming, nutrient levels, and grazing affect the slope of phytoplankton community SARs in decadal time-series from eight Swiss lakes of the peri-alpine region, which underwent environmental forcing due to climate change and oligotrophication. We expected rising temperature to have a negative effect on slope (favoring small phytoplankton), and increasing nutrient levels and grazing pressure to have a positive effect (benefiting large phytoplankton). Using a random forest approach to extract robust patterns from the noisy data, we found that the effects of temperature (direct and indirect through water column stability), nutrient availability (phosphorus and total biomass), and large herbivore (copepods and daphnids) grazing and selectivity on slope were non-linear and interactive. Increasing water temperature or total grazing pressure, and decreasing phosphorus levels, had a positive effect on slope (favoring large phytoplankton, which are predominantly mixotrophic in the lake dataset). Our results therefore showed patterns that were opposite to the expected long-term effects of temperature and nutrient levels, and support a paradigm in which (i) small phototrophic phytoplankton appear to be favored under high nutrients levels, low temperature and low grazing, and (ii) large mixotrophic algae are favored under oligotrophic conditions when temperature and grazing pressure are high. The effects of temperature were stronger under nutrient limitation, and the effects of nutrients and grazing were stronger at high temperature. Our study shows that the phytoplankton local SARs in lakes respond to both the independent and the interactive effects of resources, grazing and water temperature in a complex, unexpected way, and observations from long-term studies can deviate significantly from general theoretical expectations.23 years ago
- Turbulent mixing controls the vertical transfer of heat, gases and nutrients in stratified water bodies, shaping their response to environmental forcing. Nevertheless, due to technical limitations, the redistribution of wind-derived energy fuelling turbulence within stratified lakes has only been mapped over short (sub-annual) timescales. Here we present a year-round observational record of energy fluxes in the large Lake Geneva. Contrary to the standing view, we show that the benthic layers are the main locus for turbulent mixing only during winter. Instead, most turbulent mixing occurs in the water-column interior during the stratified summer season, when the co-occurrence of thermal stability and lighter winds weakens near-sediment currents. Since stratified conditions are becoming more prevalent --possibly reducing turbulent fluxes in deep benthic environments--, these results contribute to the ongoing efforts to anticipate the effects of climate change on freshwater quality and ecosystem services in large lakes.23 years ago
- In agricultural areas, insecticides inevitably reach water bodies via leaching or run-off. While designed to be neurotoxic to insects, insecticides have adverse effects on a multitude of organisms due to the high conservation of the nervous system among phyla. To estimate ecological effects of insecticides, it is important to investigate their impact on non-target organisms such as fish. Using the zebrafish as model, we investigated how different classes of insecticides influence fish behavior and uncovered neuronal underpinnings of the behavioral changes providing an unprecedented insight into the perception of these chemicals by fish. We observed that zebrafish larvae avoid diazinon and imidacloprid while showing no response to other insecticides with the same mode of action. Moreover, ablation of olfaction abolished the aversive responses, indicating that fish smelled the insecticides. Assessment of neuronal activity in 289 brain regions showed that hypothalamic areas involved in stress response were among the regions with the largest changes, indicating that the observed behavioral response resembles reactions to stimuli that threaten the homeostasis, such as changes in water chemistry. Our results contribute to the understanding of the environmental impact of insecticide exposure and can help refining acute toxicity assessment.23 years ago
- Synthetic water-soluble polymeric materials are widely employed in e.g. cleaning detergents, personal care products, paints or textiles. Accordingly, these compounds reach sewage treatment plants and may enter receiving waters and the aquatic environment. Characteristically, these molecules show a polydisperse molecular weight distribution, comprising multiple repeating units, i.e. a homologous series (HS). Their analysis in environmentally relevant samples has received some attention over the last two decades, however, the majority of previous studies focused on surfactants and a molecular weight range <1000 Da. To capture a wider range on the mass versus polarity plane and extend towards less polar contaminants, a workflow was established using three different ionization strategies, namely conventional electrospray ionization, atmospheric pressure photoionization and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization. The data evaluation consisted of suspect screening of ca. 1200 suspect entries and a non-target screening of HS with pre-defined accurate mass differences using ca. 400 molecular formulas of repeating units of HS as input and repeating retention time shifts as HS indicator. To study the fate of these water-soluble polymeric substances in the wastewater treatment process, the different stages, i.e. after primary and secondary clarifier, and after ozonation followed by sand filtration, were sampled at a Swiss wastewater treatment plant. Remaining with two different ionization interfaces, ESI and APPI, in both polarities, a non-targeted screening approach led to a total number of 146 HS (each with a minimum number of 4 members), with a molecular mass of up to 1200 detected in the final effluent. Of the 146 HS, ca 15% could be associated with suspect hits and approximately 25% with transformation products of suspects. Tentative characterization or probable chemical structure could be assigned to almost half of the findings. In positive ionization mode various sugar derivatives with differing side chains, for negative mode structures with sulfonic acids, could be characterized. The number of detected HS decreased significantly over the three treatment stages. For HS detectable also in the biological and oxidative treatment stages, a change in HS distribution towards to lower mass range was often observed.53 years ago
- The production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) represents a relevant option to valorize municipal wastewater (MWW). In this context, different capture technologies can be used to recover organic carbon from wastewater in form of solids, while pre-treatment of those solids has the potential to increase VFA production during subsequent fermentation. Our study investigates how VFA composition produced by fermentation is influenced (i) by the choice of the capture technology, as well as (ii) by the use of thermal alkaline pre-treatment (TAP). Therefore, the fermentation of solids originating from a primary settler, a micro-sieve, and a high-rate activated sludge (HRAS) system was investigated in continuous lab-scale fermenters, with and without TAP. Our study demonstrates that the capture technology strongly influences the composition of the produced solids, which in turn drives the complexity of the fermenter’s microbial community and ultimately, of the VFA composition. Solids captured with the primary settler or micro-sieve consisted primarily of polysaccharides, and led to the establishment of a microbial community specialized in the degradation of complex carbohydrates. The produced VFA composition was relatively simple, with acetate and propionate accounting for >90% of the VFAs. In contrast, the HRAS system produced biomass-rich solids associated with higher protein contents. The microbial community which then developed in the fermenter was therefor more diversified and capable of converting a wider range of substrates (polysaccharides, proteins, amino acids). Ultimately, the produced VFA composition was more complex, with equal fractions of iso-acids and propionate (both ~20%), while acetate remained the dominant acid (~50%). Finally, TAP did not significantly modify the VFA composition while increasing VFA yields on HRAS and sieved material by 35% and 20%, respectively. Overall, we demonstrated that the selection of the technology used to capture organic substrates from MWW governs the composition of the VFA cocktail, ultimately with implications for their further utilization.33 years ago
- Novel technologies allow to reuse or recycle water for on-site applications such as toilet flushing, showering, or hand washing at the household- or building-scale. Many of these technologies have now reached technology readiness levels that require for verification and validation testing in the field. Results from such field tests of decentralized water reuse systems have been published over the past few years, and observed performance is often compared to quality targets from water reuse frameworks (WRFs). An inspection of ten recent journal publications reveals that targets from WRFs are often misinterpreted, and the emphasis of these publications is too often on demonstrating successful aspects of the technologies rather than critically evaluating the quality of the produced water. We hypothesize that some of these misinterpretations are due to ambiguous definition of scopes of WRFs (e.g., “unrestricted urban reuse”) and unclear applicability for novel recycling systems that treat the water for applications that go beyond the reuse scopes defined in current WRFs. Additional challenges are linked to the verification of WRF quality targets in small-scale and decentralized systems under economic and organizational constraints. Current WRFs are not suitable for all possible reuse cases. There is need for a critical discussion of quality targets and associated monitoring methods. As the scope of water reuse has expanded greatly over the past years, WRFs need to address new applications and advances in technology, including in monitoring capacities.33 years ago
- Stream biofilms have been shown to be among the most sensitive indicators of environmental stress in aquatic ecosystems and several endpoints have been developed to measure biofilm adverse effects caused by environmental stressors. Here, we compare the effects of long-term exposure of stream biofilms to diuron, a commonly used herbicide, on several traditional ecotoxicological endpoints (biomass growth, photosynthetic efficiency, chlorophyll-a content, and taxonomic composition), with the effects measured by recently developed methods [community structure assessed by flow cytometry (FC-CS) and measurement of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)]. Biofilms grown from local stream water in recirculating microcosms were exposed to a constant concentration of 20 μg/L diuron over a period of 3 weeks. During the experiment, we observed temporal variation in photosynthetic efficiency, biomass, cell size, presence of decaying cells and in the EPS protein fraction. While biomass growth, photosynthetic efficiency, and chlorophyll-a content were treatment independent, the effects of diuron were detectable with both FC and EPS measurements. This demonstrates that, at least for our experimental setup, a combination of different ecotoxicological endpoints can be important for evaluating biofilm environmental stress and suggests that the more recent ecotoxicological endpoints (FC-CS, EPS protein content and humic substances) can be a useful addition for stream biofilm ecotoxicological assessment.33 years ago
- River networks are one of the main routes by which the public could be exposed to environmental sources of antibiotic resistance, that may be introduced e.g. via treated wastewater. In this study, we applied a comprehensive integrated analysis encompassing mass-flow concepts, chemistry, bacterial plate counts, resistance gene quantification and shotgun metagenomics to track the fate of the resistome (collective antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in a microbial community) of treated wastewater in two Swiss rivers at the kilometer scale. The levels of certain ARGs and the class 1 integron integrase gene (intI1) commonly associated with anthropogenic sources of ARGs decreased quickly over short distances (2-2.5 km) downstream of wastewater discharge points. Mass-flow analysis based on conservative tracers suggested this decrease was attributable mainly to dilution but ARG loadings frequently also decreased (e.g., 55.0-98.5 % for ermB and tetW) over the longest studied distances (6.8 and 13.7 km downstream). Metagenomic analysis confirmed that ARG of wastewater-origin did not persist in rivers after 5 ∼ 6.8 km downstream distance. sul1 and intI1 levels and loadings were more variable and even increased sharply at 5 ∼ 6.8 km downstream distance on one occasion. While input from agriculture and in-situ positive selection pressure for organisms carrying ARGs cannot be excluded, in-system growth of biomass is a more probable explanation. The potential for direct human exposure to the resistome of wastewater-origin thus appeared to typically abate rapidly in the studied rivers. However, the riverine aquatic resistome was also dynamic, as evidenced by the increase of certain gene markers downstream, without obvious sources of anthropogenic contamination. This study provides new insight into drivers of riverine resistomes and pinpoints key monitoring targets indicative of where human sources and exposures are likely to be most acute.113 years ago
- ## There is [a newer version](https://doi.org/10.25678/0006DM) of this dataset. This package contains the supplementary information (SI) of chapter 2 of the dissertation of Frederik T. Weiss with the Dissertation No. ETH 27434 (defended: 24th February, 2021), entitled: "Pesticides in a tropical Costa Rican stream catchment: from monitoring and risk assessment to the identification of possible mitigation options". Generally within this thesis the supplementary information (SI) is divided into three parts (SI A, SI B, SI C). For each chapter, SI A section contains background information/data for the reader with quick and easy access added directly after each main chapter. SI B contains raw data, further processed data for analysis, and figures of processed data presented as Excel files. SI C combines the R scripts with information and commands utilized for the statistical analysis. The abstract of chapter 2 reads as follows: "For monitoring of pesticides in tropical streams, cost-efficient and easily applicable approaches are needed. Moreover, to capture short pesticide concentration peaks, a time-integrated sampling is preferable to conventional snapshot grab sampling. Passive sampling approaches fulfil these criteria. Therefore, this chapter focusses on the application of three passive sampling devices to monitor 275 pesticides and pesticide transformation products (PPTP) in the horticultural Tapezco river catchment over several months in two consecutive years. Two of the samplers were sorbent-based: reverse phase sulfonated styrene-divinylbenzene (SDB) disks and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sheets, yielding biweekly integrated averaged PPTP concentrations. The third sampler was a low-cost, non-sorbent-based, water level proportional sampling system (WLPSS), yielding water level-weighted, biweekly integrated PPTP concentrations. The objectives were to (1) test the performance and robustness of these samplers (2) obtain comprehensive quantitative pesticide concentration data and (3) provide recommendations for their field application in future monitoring campaigns. Of the 275 targeted PPTP, 87 polar and semi-polar PPTP were detected with the SDB method and 99 with the WLPSS, of which 77 were found with both systems. In several cases (10 with SDB, 22 with WLPSS), a pesticide was only detected by one of the set-ups; this exclusive detection could be due to the respective substance concentrations being close to or below the method limit of quantification (MLOQ) for the sampler where it was not detected. Despite the different sampling principles for SDB and WLPSS, the same pesticides (carbendazim and flutolanil) were found with the highest median water concentrations (> 100 ng/L) with both samplers. The complementary PDMS system allowed detection of 11 non-polar pesticides. Among these, cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos and permethrin showed the highest concentrations (> 2 ng/L). Chlorpyrifos was the only pesticide detected with all three sampling techniques. Standard deviations for detected chlorpyrifos concentrations were the highest for SDB sampling, likely due to a lag-phase in sampling across the membrane covering the sampler due to the chemical’s high hydrophobicity. Moreover, derived chlorpyrifos water concentrations were significantly higher using the WLPSS compared to SDB and PDMS sampling. This was also seen for another six pesticides sampled with the WLPSS compared to SDB sampling. Higher concentrations detected via WLPSS can be explained by the ability of the WLPSS to collect pesticide peaks associated with heavy rainfall events and linked to rise of water levels in a more pronounced fashion as compared to the time-integrated sampling manner of the SDB and PDMS samplers. Yet, only a small portion, 15%, of the WLPSS samples collected, could be used to yield water level-weighted, time-integrated concentration (CWLW) data, calling for a need to further optimize and standardize the application of this device. Of the devices tested, the SDB disks were the easiest to apply and the most cost-efficient for short-term monitoring campaigns. The SDB sampling can be conducted in sparsely equipped laboratory facilities, while for the PDMS sheets and the WLPSS, sample preparation and extraction are technically more demanding."53 years ago
- Salmonids are of particular interest to evolutionary biologists due to their incredible diversity of life-history strategies and the speed at which many salmonid species have diversified. In Switzerland alone, over 30 species of Alpine whitefish from the subfamily Coregoninae have evolved since the last glacial maximum, with species exhibiting a diverse range of morphological and behavioural phenotypes. This, combined with the whole genome duplication which occurred in the ancestor of all salmonids, makes the Alpine whitefish radiation a particularly interesting system in which to study the genetic basis of adaptation and speciation and the impacts of ploidy changes and subsequent rediploidization on genome evolution. Although well curated genome assemblies exist for many species within Salmonidae, genomic resources for the subfamily Coregoninae are lacking. To assemble a whitefish reference genome, we carried out PacBio sequencing from one wild-caught Coregonus sp. "Balchen" from Lake Thun to ~90x coverage. PacBio reads were assembled independently using three different assemblers, Falcon, Canu and wtdbg2 and subsequently scaffolded with additional Hi-C data. All three assemblies were highly contiguous, had strong synteny to a previously published Coregonus linkage map, and when mapping additional short-read data to each of the assemblies, coverage was fairly even across most chromosome-scale scaffolds. Here, we present the first de novo genome assembly for the Salmonid subfamily Coregoninae. The final 2.2 Gb wtdbg2 assembly included 40 scaffolds, an N50 of 51.9 Mb, and was 93.3% complete for BUSCOs. The assembly consisted of ~52% TEs and contained 44,525 genes.73 years ago
- Mooring with temperature and pressure loggers on lake Silvaplana to observe ice growing and inverse stratification33 years ago
- This package contains the data and code necessary to run the Active Learning experiments for Anomaly detection. The dataset used for this study is a timeseries data in high spatiotemporal resolution from a long term ecological experiment ("NUtrients, DREissena mussels, and Macrophytes - NUDREM")23 years ago
- When lakes experience surface cooling, the shallow littoral region cools faster than the deep pelagic waters. The lateral density gradient resulting from this differential cooling can trigger a cold downslope density current that intrudes at the base of the mixed layer during stratified conditions. This process is known as a thermal siphon (TS). A TS flushes the littoral region and increases water exchange between nearshore and pelagic zones and may thus potentially impact the lake ecosystem. Past observations of TS in lakes are limited to specific cooling events. Here, we focus on the seasonality of TS-induced lateral transport and investigate how seasonally varying forcing conditions control the occurrence and intensity of TS. This research interprets one-year-long TS observations from Rotsee (Switzerland), a small wind-sheltered temperate lake with an elongated shallow region. We demonstrate that a TS occurs for more than 50 % of the days from late summer to winter and efficiently flushes the littoral region within ~10 hours. We further quantify the occurrence, intensity and timing of the TS over seasonal time scales. The conditions for TS formation become optimal in autumn when the duration of the cooling phase is longer than the time necessary to initiate a TS. The decrease in surface cooling by one order of magnitude from summer to winter reduces the lateral transport by a factor of two. We interpret this transport seasonality with scaling relationships relating the daily averaged cross-shore velocity, unit-width discharge and flushing timescale to the surface buoyancy flux, mixed layer depth and lake bathymetry. The timing and duration of diurnal flushing by TS relate to daily heating and cooling phases. The longer cooling phase in autumn increases the flushing duration and delays the time of maximal flushing relative to the summer diurnal cycle. Given their scalability, the results reported here can be used to assess the relevance of TS in other lakes and reservoirs.63 years ago
- In sechs kleinen bis mittelgrossen Fliessgewässern wurden die für aquatische Organismen extrem toxischen Pyrethroid- und Organophosphatinsektizide mittels einer Spezialanalytik bis in den Picogramm pro-Liter Bereich quantifiziert. An fünf der sechs untersuchten Standorte überschritten die gemessenen Insektizidkonzentrationen regelmässig chronische und zum Teil akute Qualitätskriterien und die chronische Mischungsrisiko¬bewertung zeigte während 43-100% des Untersuchungszeitraums hohe Risiken für die Invertebratengemeinschaft an. Werden Pyrethroid- und Organophosphatinsektizide nicht in die Beurteilung der Gewässerqualität miteinbezogen, kann das Gesamtrisiko für aquatische Organismen erheblich unterschätzt werden.33 years ago
- In this study we sampled Lake Rotsee, Greifensee, Zug and Lugano to derive general patterns of methane-oxidizing bacteria in proximity to the oxygen-methane interface of these four stratified lakes. We used Illumina amplicon sequencing for the analysis of the 16S rRNA and the 16S rRNA gene as well as pmoA gene and transcripts together with potential methane oxidation rates based on incubations with 13C-CH4.113 years ago
- ## There is [a newer version](https://doi.org/10.25678/0006CK) of this dataset. This package contains the supplementary information (SI) of chapter 3 of the dissertation of Frederik T. Weiss with the Dissertation No. ETH 27434 (defended: 24th February, 2021), entitled: "Pesticides in a tropical Costa Rican stream catchment: from monitoring and risk assessment to the identification of possible mitigation options". Generally within this thesis the supplementary information (SI) is divided into three parts (SI A, SI B, SI C). For each chapter, SI A section contains background information/data for the reader with quick and easy access added directly after each main chapter. SI B contains raw data, further processed data for analysis, and figures of processed data presented as Excel files. SI C combines the R scripts with information and commands utilized for the statistical analysis. The abstract of chapter 3 reads as follows: "A pesticide monitoring in the Tapezco river catchment region in two subsequent years (2015/2016) revealed that intensive pesticide use leads to contamination of streams. As shown in Chapter 2, 87 pesticide and pesticide transformation products (PPTP), comprising insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and several of their transformation products (TP) were identified by applying sorbent-based passive sampling approaches at the five (2015), respectively eight (2016), sub-catchment (SC) sites. Using these monitoring data as a basis, the first aim of this study was to exploit the measured environmental concentrations (MEC) of the PPTP with regard to their spatio-temporal distribution among the different sampling sites in the Tapezco river catchment. To enable a comparison between the two sampling years, of the 87 detected PPTP, the data set was narrowed down to those which were found in both sampling years, leading to a subset of 62 PPTP. Two MEC-based risk assessment approaches, one relying on Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) and the other on the Toxic Units (TU) concept focusing on invertebrates, were used to identify if the PPTP pose health risks to aquatic biota either singly or in mixture. As well, available macroinvertebrate data for four sites (SC1, SC4, SC5 and SC8) was evaluated in view of the indicated water quality, applying the species at risk pesticide (SPEARpesticide), the Costa Rican Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP-CR) Index, and the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Tricoptera (EPT)-taxa richness indices. For the 62 considered PPTP, spatial trends were observed. In more detail, at two connected sites (SC2 and SC3), the average number of PPTP was 2-fold lower compared to the six remaining sites. At all sites, insecticides had the broadest detected spectrum as opposed to the numbers of individual herbicides and fungicides. Conversely, at all sites and periods, fungicides had the highest average %contribution of the average sum-concentration among the individual detected pesticide types. Independent of the risk assessment approach applied, the quality of the water was indicated to be generally poor, pointing at chronic, and even acute effects to be expected for aquatic communities at all sampling sites. Invertebrates were the most affected organism group based on EQS and TU without any apparent time window to recover from pesticide stress during both sampling years. The SPEARpesticide and the BMWP-CR indices both indicated that, despite the continuous pesticide pollution stress at all sites, water quality seemed to be improved at SC5 and reached even a good to regular water quality at the most downstream site (SC8) compared to the other remaining sites (SC1 and SC4) for which macroinvertebrate data was available. The EPT-taxa richness index showed as well an improvement in water quality at SC8. This finding could be due to a larger river stretch upstream to the sampling site with no horticultural land and high share of natural forest. Given that all applied approaches confirmed substantial risks, there is an urgent need for a reduction of pesticides in streams of the Tapezoco catchment to improve the water quality in order to protect aquatic communities in these streams."43 years ago
- Log removal values for phages, chemical disinfectant, or combined treatment on surface-attached Pseudomonas aeruginosa.83 years ago
- This checklist serves to guide a general review of a data package submitted to the Eawag Research Data Repository. A General review, as opposed to a domain specific review can be conducted by people without expertise in the scientific field the data package relates to.23 years ago
- Abstract Lakes and reservoirs contribute substantially to atmospheric concentrations of the potent greenhouse gas methane. Lacustrine sediments produce large amounts of methane, which accumulate in oxygen-depleted hypolimnia of stratified lakes. Due to climate change and progressing eutrophication, the number of lakes with hypolimnetic methane storage may increase in the future. However, whether stored methane eventually reaches the atmosphere during lake overturn is a matter of controversy and depends critically on the response of the methanotroph assemblage. We show that the methanotroph assemblage in a mixing lake undergoes a substantial bloom and ecological succession. As a result, the methane oxidation capacity of the mixed layer kept pace with the methane supplied from the hypolimnion and most of the stored methane was oxidized. Our work demonstrates a previously unknown component of freshwater methanotroph ecology illuminating the mechanisms limiting methane transfer from lakes to the atmosphere.153 years ago
- To protect the ecosystem and drinking water resources in Switzerland and in the countries of the downstream catchments, a new Swiss water protection act entered into force in 2016 aiming to reduce the discharge of micropollutants from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). As a consequence, selected WWTPs must be upgraded by an advanced treatment for micropollutant abatement with suitable and economic options such as (powdered) activated carbon treatment or ozonation. WWTP Neugut (105’000 people equivalent) was the first WWTP in Switzerland to implement a long-term full-scale ozonation. Differing specific ozone doses in the range of 0.35-0.97 g O3/g DOC were applied to determine the adequate ozone dose to fulfill the requirements of the Swiss water protection act. Based on this assessment, a specific ozone dose of 0.55 g O3/g DOC is recommended at this plant to ensure an average abatement of the twelve selected indicator substances by ≥80% over the whole treatment. A monitoring of 550 substances confirmed that this dose was very efficient to abate a broad range of micropollutants by >79% on average. After ozonation, an additional biological post-treatment is required to eliminate possible negative ecotoxicological effects generated during ozonation caused by biodegradable ozonation transformation products (OTPs) and oxidation by-products (OBPs). Three biological treatments (sand filtration, moving bed, fixed bed) and granular activated carbon (GAC, fresh and pre-loaded) filtration were evaluated as post-treatments after ozonation. In parallel, a fresh GAC filter directly connected to the effluent of the secondary clarifier was assessed. Among the three purely biological post-treatments, the sand filtration performed best in terms of removal of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), assimilable organic carbon (AOC) and total suspended solids (TSS). The fresh activated carbon filtration ensured a significant additional micropollutants abatement after ozonation due to sorption. The relative abatement of the indicator substances ranged between 20-89% after 27’000 bed volumes (BV) and was still substantial at 50’000 BV. In an identical GAC filter running in parallel and being fed with the effluent of the secondary clarifier, the elimination was less efficient. Seven primary OTPs (chlorothiazide and six N-oxides) formed during ozonation could be quantified thanks to available reference standards. Their concentration decreased with increasing specific ozone doses with the concomitant formation of other OTPs. The seven OTPs were found to be stable compounds and were not abated in the biological post-treatments. They were sorbed in the fresh GAC filter, but less efficiently than the corresponding parent compounds. Two OBPs, bromate (BrO3-) and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), were formed during ozonation but did not exceeded 5 µg/L for bromate and 30 ng/L for NDMA at the recommended specific ozone dose of 0.55 g O3/g DOC. NDMA was well abated in all post-treatments (minimum 41% during fixed bed filtration, maximum 83% during fresh GAC filtration), while bromate was very stable as expected.53 years ago
- Stochastic hydrological process models have two conceptual advantages over deterministic models. First, even though water flow in a well-defined environment is governed by deterministic differential equations, a hydrological system, at the level we can observe it, does not behave deterministically. Reasons for this behavior are unobserved spatial heterogeneity and fluctuations of input, unobserved influence factors, heterogeneity and variability in soil and aquifer properties, and an imprecisely known initial state. A stochastic model provides thus a more realistic description of the system than a deterministic model. Second, hydrological models simplify real processes. The resulting structural deficits can better be accounted for by stochastic than by deterministic models because they, even for given parameters and input, allow for a probability distribution of different system evolutions rather than a single trajectory. On the other hand, stochastic process models are more susceptible to identifiability problems and Bayesian inference is computationally much more demanding. In this paper, we review the use of stochastic, time-dependent parameters to make deterministic models stochastic, discuss options for the numerical implementation of Bayesian inference, and investigate the potential and challenges of this approach with a case study. We demonstrate how model deficits can be identified and reduced, and how the suggested approach leads to a more realistic description of the uncertainty of internal and output variables of the model compared to a deterministic model. In addition, multiple stochastic parameters with different correlation times could explain the variability in the time scale of output error fluctuations identified in an earlier study.23 years ago
- On-site wastewater treatment plants (OSTs) are usually unattended, so failures often remain undetected and lead to prolonged periods of reduced performance. To stabilize the performance of unattended plants, soft sensors could expose faults and failures to the operator. In a previous study, we developed soft sensors and showed that soft sensors with data from unmaintained physical sensors can be as accurate as soft sensors with data from maintained ones. The monitored variables were pH and dissolved oxygen (DO), and soft sensors were used to predict nitrification performance. In the present study, we use synthetic data and monitor three plants to test these soft sensors. We find that a long solids retention time and a moderate aeration rate improve the pH soft-sensor accuracy and that the aeration regime is the main operational parameter affecting the accuracy of the DO soft sensor. We demonstrate that integrated design of monitoring and control is necessary to achieve robustness when extrapolating from one OST to another in the absence of plant-specific fine-tuning. Additionally, we provide a unique labeled dataset for further feature and data-driven soft-sensor development. Our benchmarking results indicate that it is feasible to monitor OSTs with unmaintained sensors and without plant-specific tuning of the developed soft sensors. This is expected to drastically reduce monitoring costs for OST-based sanitation systems.43 years ago
- # Data for: Transfer of Enteric Viruses Adenovirus and Coxsackievirus and Bacteriophage MS2 from Liquid to Human Skin The data were collected, analyzed, and reported within the following publication: Pitol AK, Bischel HN, Boehm AB, Tamar K, Julian TR. 2018. Transfer of Enteric Viruses Adenovirus and Coxsackievirus and Bacteriophage MS2 from Liquid to Human Skin. Appl Environ Mcrobiology 84:1–13. < https:// doi.org/10.1128/AEM.01809-18> ## File virustransferwatertoskin.csv The data set contains the following attributes: + Cw: Concentration of virus in the liquid (PFU/mL or MPN/mL) + Ch.un: Number of unadsorbed virus on the skin per surface area (PFU/cm2 or MPN/cm2) + Ch.ad: Number of bacteriophages adsorbed on the skin per surface area (PFU/cm2 or MPN/cm2) + virus: Virus used in the study (adenovirus, coxsackievirus, or bacteriophage MS2) Note: The number of virus is expressed in Plaque Forming Units (PFU) in the case of bacteriophage MS2, and Most Probable Number (MPN) in the case of adenovirus and coxsackievirus.23 years ago
- This package contains the supplementary information (SI) of chapter 4 of the dissertation of Frederik T. Weiss with the Dissertation No. ETH 27434 (defended: 24th February, 2021), entitled: "Pesticides in a tropical Costa Rican stream catchment: from monitoring and risk assessment to the identification of possible mitigation options". Generally within this thesis the supplementary information (SI) is divided into three parts (SI A, SI B, SI C). For each chapter, SI A section contains background information/data for the reader with quick and easy access added directly after each main chapter. SI B contains raw data, further processed data for analysis, and figures of processed data presented as Excel files. SI C combines the R scripts with information and commands utilized for the statistical analysis. The abstract of chapter 4 reads as follows: "Finding targeted strategies to mitigate entry of pesticides into surface waters in areas of intense agriculture is challenging. This holds especially true in little studied areas with very distinct topographic characteristics and unconventional field cultivation practices, such as in the tropical Tapezco river catchment in Costa Rica. Within this catchment, areas with steep slopes are used for intense horticultural farming of mainly vegetables. This is exclusively done by a farming practice similar to contour farming, the practice of tilling land with furrows along parallel lines of consistent elevation in order to conserve rainwater and to prevent soil losses by erosion. At the same time, slope-directed paths are implemented to act as drainage system to avoid stagnant water on the fields during heavy rain events, though as well connecting the fields directly with the streams, which enable a fast pesticide transport. Indeed, a significant contamination of streams with pesticides and pesticide transformation products (PPTP) throughout the Tapezco river catchment has been confirmed, leading to considerable toxicological risks to aquatic communities, urgently calling for effective mitigation strategies to reduce PPTP inputs. To identify how PPTP are transported from horticultural areas into streams of the Tapezco river catchment, different PPTP transportation pathways were considered. The first investigated pathway was via handling practices of pesticides by farmers and field workers, where inappropriate handling was proposed to lead to sporadically distributed pesticide inputs unrelated to hydrology. The second studied pathway was surface run-off. Typically, heavy precipitation events are found to be important drivers for the surface-based transport of pesticides into the streams. Thus, such pesticide inputs can be assumed to correlate positively with water levels in the receiving streams. Surface run-off is additionally favored by the slope-directed paths on the fields, which directly connect fields with the streams. Therefore, the influence of prevalent topographical and hydrological variables on PPTP inputs via surface run-offs were studies within this thesis. The third potential investigated input pathway was the leaching of pesticides into the ground from where pesticides can enter streams via exfiltration through river banks. This path would be expected to lead to a constant input that is negatively correlated with water levels. To investigate the role of these pathways in transporting PPTP into the streams, pesticide peaks unrelated to hydrology were identified based on measured environmental concentrations (MEC) of PPTP and compared with water level time series. Survey data about pesticide handling practices were evaluated additionally. Temporal PPTP distributions were investigated during three sampling periods (ΔT1, Δ2a, Δ2b) within 2015 and 2016 and spatial trends were studied at eight sub-catchment (SC) sites. In addition, knowledge on the topography (share of horticultural land, share of forest in the 100 m stream buffer zone, average slopes of the horticultural fields) and hydrology (median water level factors) was considered. These variables were referred to as explanatory variables while 20-, 50- and 80-percentiles of MEC were considered dependent variables. The explanatory and dependent variables were correlated via linear regression modelling for identifying the most important determinants of PPTP transport. There, 20-percentiles represent a scenario with low precipitations, no or low surface run-offs and low PPTP inputs; 50-percentiles a scenario with medium precipitations, resulting in medium surface run-offs and PPTP inputs; and 80-percentiles a scenario with high precipitations, heavy surface run-offs and high PPTP inputs into streams. With a focus on potential mitigation measures achieving the highest effectiveness for reducing risks to aquatic biota, analyses were performed on a sub-set of PPTP that dominated the risks to aquatic organisms, along with three transformation products (TP) to calculate TP/PPTP ratios as a measure of pesticide residence time. The correlation analysis of the PPTP input pathways was again based on eight SC sites. The input of three pesticides were very likely due to inappropriate handling. For five additional pesticides, the input via inappropriate handling seemed probable. Temporal exposure trends were observed by comparing the MEC during the sampling period with reduced precipitation (ΔT1, in 2015) with the MEC detected at periods with normal precipitations (Δ2a, Δ2b, in 2016). In addition, spatial trends were investigated by conducting a cluster analysis with the MEC PPTP data (20-, 50- and 80-percentiles) among the different sites. Particularly the pesticide distributions at SC2 and SC3 were different compared to other sites (SC1, SC4, SC6, SC7 and SC8). However, except for the 20-percentile scenario, the pesticide distribution at SC5 was similar compared to that at SC2 and SC3, forming one sub-cluster. Linear regression models helped to find relationships between two explanatory variables, namely, the share of forest in the buffer zone, and mean slopes of horticultural fields, and the dependent variable, MEC percentiles in streams. For five PPTP, boscalid, diazinon, diuron-desdimethyl, linuron and prometryn + terbutryn the percentile concentrations decreased significantly with increasing share of forest in 100 m river buffer zone considering all scenarios. With regard to the horticultural mean slope, for cyhalothrin and thiamethoxam, the percentile concentrations increased with increasing mean slopes of the horticultural areas for all three scenarios. A high share of forest in the buffer zone worked generally as barrier for input via surface run-off, but not for all PPTP. For the fungicide, carbendazim, increased average slopes did not favor the input into the streams and inputs were low even at sites with horticultural areas with a high mean slope (80 percentile scenario). By analyzing groundwater samples it became apparent that, especially in SC with horticultural fields with low average slopes, a leaching of PPTP into groundwater and further transport into the streams via exfiltration might be possible. Based on this assessment, three avenues for mitigating input of PPTP into the streams could be deduced: to provide training workshops for better handling as well as biobeds for proper disposal; to avoid cultivation of crops in high need insecticides on steep slopes; and to establish forested buffer zones between the fields and the streams."53 years ago
- This data has been used to generate sanitation system options for three Kebeles of Arba Minch Town (Ethiopia) and to quantify corresponding appropriateness scores as well as phosphorus, nitrogen, total solids, and water flows. The data contains input and output data for the three Kebeles which are Chamo, Mehal Ketema, and Woze. The input data are stored in a csv file with the compiled information on the 38 technologies collected from literature. This includes the technology appropriateness profiles and scores and the transfer coefficients of the four substances in question. From the 38 technologies, 67470 valid sanitation systems could be generated. Results include for each Kebele: (1) technology appropriateness scores; (2) all valid sanitation system configurations; (3) the system appropriateness scores; (4) mass flows; and (5) a a smaller set of divers and highly appropriate sanitation system options as an input into decision-making.63 years ago
- Plankton are effective indicators of environmental change and ecosystem health in freshwater habitats, but collection of plankton data using manual microscopic methods is extremely labor-intensive and expensive. Automated plankton imaging offers a promising way forward to monitor plankton communities with high frequency and accuracy in real-time. Yet, manual annotation of millions of images proposes a serious challenge to taxonomists. Deep learning classifiers have been successfully applied in various fields and provided encouraging results when used to categorize marine plankton images. Here, we present a set of deep learning models developed for the identification of lake plankton, and study several strategies to obtain optimal performances, which lead to operational prescriptions for users. To this aim, we annotated into 35 classes over 17900 images of zooplankton and large phytoplankton colonies, detected in Lake Greifensee (Switzerland) with the Dual Scripps Plankton Camera. Our best models were based on transfer learning and ensembling, which classified plankton images with 98% accuracy and 93% F1 score. When tested on freely available plankton datasets produced by other automated imaging tools (ZooScan, FlowCytobot and ISIIS), our models performed better than previously used models. Our annotated data, code and classification models are freely available online.43 years ago
- This package contains image data for conducting multi- and single-view sewer inlet detection in UAV image clouds. The package consists in: - individual UAV images, taken with high overlap and corrected for lens distortion - orthophoto of the case study area, clipped to road boundaries33 years ago
- The analysis of larval zebrafish locomotor behavior has emerged as a powerful indicator of perturbations in the nervous system and is used in many fields of research, including neuroscience, toxicology and drug discovery. The behavior of larval zebrafish however, is highly variable, resulting in the use of large numbers of animals and the inability to detect small effects. In this study, we analyzed whether individual locomotor behavior is stable over development and whether behavioral parameters correlate with physiological and morphological features, with the aim of better understanding the variability and predictability of larval locomotor behavior. Our results reveal that locomotor activity of an individual larva remains consistent throughout a given day and is predictable throughout larval development, especially during dark phases, under which larvae demonstrate light-searching behaviors and increased activity. The larvae’s response to startle-stimuli was found to be unpredictable, with no correlation found between response strength and locomotor activity. Furthermore, locomotor activity was not associated with physiological or morphological features of a larva (resting heart rate, body length, size of the swim bladder). Overall, our findings highlight the areas of intra-individual consistency, which could be used to improve the sensitivity of assays using zebrafish locomotor activity as an endpoint.33 years ago
- Thallium (Tl) is a highly toxic trace metal. It occurs mostly as soluble monovalent Tl(I) and less frequently as poorly soluble trivalent Tl(III). Laboratory studies have shown that vacancy-containing hexagonal birnessites can sorb Tl with a very high affinity via a mechanism that involves the oxidation of Tl(I) to Tl(III) and strong complexation of Tl(III), whereas other manganese (Mn) oxides bind Tl(I) non-oxidatively and with lower sorption affinity. Information on the mode of Tl uptake by natural Mn oxides in soils, on the other hand, is still limited. In this study, we characterized the association of Tl with Mn oxides and Tl (redox) speciation in a naturally Tl-rich soil using micro-focused synchrotron X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) chemical imaging. The results show that most soil Tl was Tl(I) associated with micaceous clay minerals in the soil matrix. High levels of Tl in soil Mn concretions, on the other hand, were mostly identified as Tl(III), suggesting that oxidative Tl uptake by vacancy-containing hexagonal birnessite was the main process of Tl accumulation in soil Mn concretions. The spectroscopic results in combination with chemical extractions and published sorption isotherms for Tl on synthetic Mn oxides suggest that the formation and transformation of natural Mn oxides in soils and sorption competition of Tl with major and trace metal cations determine the extent and mode of Tl uptake by soil Mn oxides. Methodologically, this study compares classical micro-XRF element mapping combined with point XANES analyses for spatially-resolved element speciation with high-resolution chemical imaging of entire sample areas, which is of great interest for the geochemical community in light of diffraction-limited storage ring upgrades to many synchrotron lightsources.23 years ago
- This archive contains the results from calibration experiments with trend-like data. A simple EPA SWMM flood model was calibrated with different combinations of conventional water level data and trend-like water level data. Three different measurement locations in the model were possible: the pond (s3), the outlet shaft (s5), and the basement (s6). Trend-like data of different qualities were considered: error-free data (codename "trend"), data with correlated errors ("sofi") and data with uncorrelated errors ("gaussiantrend").53 years ago
- The download package of the Eawag AGS model. Content: 1. Eawag AGS Model files 2. User guide 3. Sumo project examples 4. Data extraction files 5. R tool 6. Python runner More information on the model can be found here: https://www.eawag.ch/en/department/eng/projects/abwasser/ags-aerobic-granular-slugde-model/23 years ago
- Groundwater is a major drinking water resource, but its quality is threatened by a broad variety of anthropogenic micropollutants (MPs), originating from agriculture, industry, or households, and undergoing various transformation processes during subsurface passage. To determine a worst-case impact of pesticide application in agriculture on groundwater quality, a target and suspect screening for more than 300 pesticides and more than 1100 pesticide transformation products (TPs) was performed in 31 Swiss groundwater samples which predominantly originated from areas with intensive agriculture. To assess additional urban contamination sources, more than 250 common urban MPs were quantified. Most of the screened pesticide TPs were experimentally observed by the pesticide producers within the European pesticide registration. To cover very polar pesticide TPs, vacuum-assisted evaporative concentration was used for enrichment, followed by liquid chromatography high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS). Based on intensity, isotope pattern, retention time, and in silico fragmentation, the suspect hits were prioritised and verified. We identified 22 suspects unequivocally and five tentatively; 13 TPs are reported here for the first time to be detected in groundwater. In 13 out of 31 groundwater samples, the total concentration of the 20 identified and quantified suspects (1 pesticide and 19 pesticide TPs) exceeded the total concentration of the 519 targets (236 pesticides and TPs; 283 urban MPs) for which we screened. Pesticide TPs had higher concentrations than the parent pesticides, illustrating their importance for groundwater quality. The newly identified very polar chlorothalonil TP R471811 was the only compound detected in all samples with concentrations ranging from 3 to 2700 ng/L. Agricultural MP concentration and detection frequency correlated with agricultural land use in the catchment, except for aquifers, where protective top layers reduced MP transport from the surface. In contrast to agricultural MPs, urban MPs displayed almost no correlation with land use. The dominating entry pathway of urban MPs was river bank filtration.63 years ago
- Genomic datasets continue to increase in number due to the ease of production for a wider selection of species including non-model organisms. For many of these species, especially those with large or polyploid genomes, highly contiguous and well-annotated genomes are still rare due to the complexity and cost involved in their assembly. As a result, a common starting point for genomic work in non-model species is the production of a linkage map. Dense linkage maps facilitate the analysis of genomic data in a variety of ways, from broad scale observations regarding genome structure e.g. chromosome number and type or sex-related structural differences, to fine scale patterns e.g. recombination rate variation and co-localization of differentiated regions. Here we present both sex-averaged and sex-specific linkage maps for Coregonus sp. "Albock", a member of the European whitefish lineage (C. lavaretus spp. complex), containing 5395 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci across 40 linkage groups to facilitate future investigation into the genomic basis of whitefish adaptation and speciation. The map was produced using restriction-site associated digestion (RAD) sequencing data from two wild-caught parents and 156 F1 offspring. We discuss the differences between our sex-averaged and sex-specific maps and identify genome-wide synteny between C. sp. "Albock" and Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), which have diverged following the salmonid-specific whole genome duplication. Our analysis confirms that many patterns of synteny observed between Atlantic Salmon and Oncorhynchus and Salvelinus species are also shared by members of the Coregoninae subfamily. We also show that regions known for their species-specific rediploidization history can pose challenges for synteny identification since these regions have diverged independently in each salmonid species following the salmonid-specific whole genome duplication. The European whitefish map provided here will enable future studies to understand the distribution of loci of interest, e.g. FST outliers, along the whitefish genome as well as assisting with the de novo assembly of a whitefish reference genome.63 years ago
- This package provides material that can be openly published for the paper "Scalable Flood Level Trend Monitoring with Surveillance Cameras using a Deep Convolutional Neural Network". It consists in the code used to generate results and figures as well as the weights of the deep convolutional neural networks trained to segment water in the surveillance camera images.43 years ago
- Nitrous oxides (N2O) emissions contribute to climate change and stratospheric ozone depletion. Wastewater treatment is a significant source of N2O remissions but likely underestimated, as recent, long-term monitoring campaigns demonstrated. However, the available data are insufficient to representatively estimate countrywide emission given the duration of most monitoring campaigns. Here, we show that the emission estimates can be significantly improved using an advanced approach based on multiple continuous, long-term monitoring campaigns. In 14 full-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), we found a strong variability for the yearly emission factors (0.1 to 8% of the incoming nitrogen load), which exhibited a high correlation with effluent nitrite compared to the inflow nitrogen load and also good correlation with nitrogen removal efficiencies. But, countrywide data on nitrite effluent concentrations is very limited and not available for emission estimation in many countries. We propose to calculate a countrywide emission factor based the weighted emission factors of three nutrient removal WWTP categories (carbon removal: 0.1-8%, nitrification only: 1.8%, and full nitrogen removal: 0.9%). However, emission factors of carbon removal WWTPs are still highly uncertain given the expected performance variability. The newly developed approach allows representative, country-specific estimations of the N2O emissions from WWTP. Applied to the case of Switzerland, the estimations result in an average EF of 0.9-3.6% and total emissions of 410 to 1690 tN2O/year, which corresponds to 0.3-1.4% of the total Emission in Switzerland. Our results demonstrate that a better data availability and an improved understanding of long-term monitoring campaigns is crucial to improve current emissions estimations. Year-round denitrification, limiting nitrite accumulation, and a stringent control of sludge age in carbon removing plants are key measures to mitigate N2O emissions from wastewater treatment.83 years ago
- As compared to the Asian lowlands, environmental exposure to arsenic (As) in West Africa has received little attention. Recent studies have found geogenic As contamination of groundwater in many regions in Burkina Faso. As-contaminated groundwater is used for drinking and increasingly also for the irrigation of staple foods. This study assesses the extent to which irrigation and cooking of staple foods in Burkina Faso influence plant uptake and dietary consumption of As, respectively. Using a greenhouse experimental setup, we evaluated the transfer of As from irrigation water spiked with 0, 100, 500, and 1,000 μg/L As(V) to the organs and edible parts of seven commonly consumed vegetables (amaranth, carrot, green bean, lettuce, okra, spinach, and tomato). Next, we cooked the greenhouse-cultivated vegetables and externally purchased foods with As-free and As-spiked waters. The As content in all plant organs increased with increasing As in the irrigation water. With 500 μg/L, the concentrations of As in the edible parts (ordered from highest to lowest) were as follows: spinach (6.6 ± 0.5μg/g); lettuce (3.9 ± 0.1μg/g); carrot (3.5 ± <0.1μg/g); amaranth (2.2 ± <0.1μg/g); okra (0.9 ± <0.1μg/g); green bean (0.8 ± <0.1μg/g); and tomato (0.2 ± <0.1μg/g). The edible parts of leafy vegetables irrigated with As-spiked water had a higher average As content (4.9 ± 4.5μg/g) than root (2.9 ± 2.0μg/g) and fruit/pod vegetables (0.8 ± 1.1μg/g). Cooking with an excess volume of As-free water reduced the As content in the cooked vegetables by 39% on average, while cooking with As-contaminated water transferred As to the cooked food. The As content in steamed foods was 8 to 18 times lower than in boiled foods. Based on human health risk estimates, we recommend planting leafy vegetables in areas with low concentrations of As in irrigation water and we propose the maximum As concentrations of 100 μg/L for the cultivation of carrot, and 500 μg/L for green bean, spinach, lettuce, and amaranth. In As-contaminated areas, mitigation strategies include the cultivation of fruit vegetables such as tomato and okra and steaming the food instead of boiling.53 years ago
- Description of 44 Lake Data Sets for Modeling Organic Substances using the MASAS-Software. The Software itself is not available anymore.23 years ago
- # Abstract Heat recovery from wastewater is a robust and straightforward strategy to reduce water-related energy consumption. Its implementation, though, requires a careful assessment of its impacts across the entire wastewater system as adverse effects on the water and resource recovery facility and competition among heat recovery strategies may arise. A model-based assessment of heat recovery from wastewater therefore implies extending the modeling spatial scope, with the aim of enabling thermal-hydraulic simulations from the household tap along its entire flow path down to the wastewater resource recovery facility. With this aim in mind, we propose a new modeling framework interfacing thermal-hydraulic simulations of (i) households, (ii) private lateral connections, and (iii) the main public sewer network. Applying this framework to analyze the fate of wastewater heat budgets in a Swiss catchment, we find that heat losses in lateral connections are large and cannot be overlooked in any thermal-hydraulic analysis, due to the high-temperature, low-flow wastewater characteristics maximizing heat losses to the environment. Further, we find that implementing shower drain heat recovery devices in 50% of the catchment's households lower the wastewater temperature at the recovery facility significantly less – only 0.3 K – than centralized in-sewer heat recovery, due to a significant thermal damping effect induced by lateral connections and secondary sewer lines. In-building technologies are thus less likely to adversely affect biological wastewater treatment processes. The proposed open-source modeling framework can be applied to any other catchment. We thereby hope to enable more efficient heat recovery strategies, maximizing energy harvesting while minimising impacts on biological wastewater treatment.43 years ago
- Anonymized data and R scripts needed to replicate the identification of subsystems in Swiss water governance described in the study "Bottom-up identification of subsystems in complex governance systems". Theories of policymaking often focus on subsystems within a larger, overarching governance system. However, subsystem identification is complicated by the complexity of governance systems, characterized by multiple, interrelated issues, multi‐level interactions, and a diverse set of organizations. This study suggests an empirical, bottom‐up methodology to identify subsystems. Subsystems are identified based on bundles of similar observed organizational activity. The study further suggests a set of three elementary criteria to classify individual subsystems. In order to prove the value of the methodology, subsystems are identified through cluster analysis, and subsequently classified in a study of Swiss water governance. Results suggest that Swiss water governance can be understood as a network of overlapping subsystems connected by boundary penetrating organizations, with high‐conflict and quiet politics subgroups. The study shows that a principled analysis of subsystems as the interconnected, constituent parts of complex governance systems offers insights into important contextual factors shaping outcomes. Such insights are prerequisite knowledge in order to understand and navigate complex systems for researchers and practitioners alike.53 years ago
- Micropollutants are ubiquitously found in natural surface waters and pose a potential risk to aquatic organisms. Stream biofilms, consisting of bacteria, algae and other microorganisms potentially contribute to bioremediating aquatic environments by biotransforming xenobiotic substances. When investigating the potential of stream biofilms to remove micropollutants from the water column, it is important to distinguish between different fate processes, such as biotransformation, passive sorption and active bioaccumulation. However, due to the complex nature of the biofilm community and its extracellular matrix, this task is often difficult. In this study, we combined biotransformation experiments involving natural stream biofilms collected up- and downstream of wastewater treatment plant outfalls with the QuEChERS extraction method to distinguish between the different fate processes. The QuEChERS extraction proved to be a suitable method for a broad range of micropollutants (> 80% of the investigated compounds). We found that 31 out of 63 compounds were biotransformed by the biofilms, with the majority being substitution-type biotransformations, and that downstream biofilms have an increased biotransformation potential towards specific wastewater-relevant micropollutants. Overall, using the experimental and analytical strategy developed, stream biofilms were demonstrated to have a broad inherent micropollutant biotransformation potential, and to thus contribute to bioremediation and improving ecosystem health.33 years ago
- Paired samples of the concentration of E. coli in handwashing water sources and on the hands of volunteers (before and after handwashing) from Harare, Zimbabwe.23 years ago
- This dataset contains the code and output files (upload.zip) for the corresponding publication, as well as a copy of the MODFLOW model (MODFLOW.zip) and its Python interface (FloPy.zip) required to reproduce all results reported.63 years ago
- This study documents the development of a semi-distributed hydrological model aimed at reflecting the dominant controls on observed streamflow spatial variability. The process is presented through the case study of the Thur catchment (Switzerland, 1702 km2), an alpine and pre–alpine catchment where streamflow (measured at 10 subcatchments) has different spatial characteristics in terms of amounts, seasonal patterns, and dominance of baseflow. In order to appraise the dominant controls on streamflow spatial variability, and build a model that reflects them, we follow a two–stages approach. In a first stage, we identify the main climatic or landscape properties that control the spatial variability of streamflow signatures. This stage is based on correlation analysis, complemented by expert judgment to identify the most plausible cause-effect relationships. In a second stage, the results of the previous analysis are used to develop a set of model experiments aimed at determining an appropriate model representation of the Thur catchment. These experiments confirm that only a hydrological model that accounts for the heterogeneity of precipitation, snow related processes, and landscape features such as geology, produces hydrographs that have signatures similar to the observed ones. This model provides consistent results in space–time validation, which is promising for predictions in ungauged basins. The presented methodology for model building can be transferred to other case studies, since the data used in this work (meteorological variables, streamflow, morphology and geology maps) is available in numerous regions around the globe.23 years ago
- This data has been used to generate valid sanitation system options from a set of potential technologies and to quantify corresponding phosphorus, nitrogen, total solids, and water flows. The data contains input and output data for a didactic case. The input data is a csv file with the compiled information on the 41 technologies collected from literature on the technologies. This includes the technology appropriateness profiles and scores and in particular the transfer coefficients of the four substances in question. Results include: (1) technology appropriateness scores; (2) all valid sanitation system configurations; (3) the system appropriateness scores; (4) mass flows; and (5) a a smaller set of divers and highly appropriate sanitation system options as an input into decision-making.63 years ago
- **Background.** The advent of the CRISPR/Cas9 technology marked the beginning of a new era in the field of molecular biology, allowing the efficient and precise creation of targeted mutations in the genome of every living cell. Since its discovery, different gene editing approaches based on the CRISPR/Cas9 technology have been widely established in mammalian cell lines, while limited knowledge is available on genetic manipulation in fish cell lines. In this work, we developed a strategy to CRISPR/Cas9 gene edit rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) cell lines and to generate single cell clone-derived knock-out cell lines, focusing on the phase I biotransformation enzyme encoding gene, *cyp1a1*, and on the intestinal cell line, RTgutGC, as example. **Results.** Ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, consisting of the Cas9 protein and a fluorescently labeled crRNA/tracrRNA duplex targeting the cyp1a1 gene, were delivered via electroporation. A T7 endonuclease I (T7EI) assay was performed on flow cytometry enriched transfected cells in order to detect CRISPR-mediated targeted mutations in the *cyp1a1* locus, revealing an overall gene editing efficiency of 39%. Sanger sequencing coupled with bioinformatics analysis led to the detection of multiple insertions and deletions of variable lengths in the *cyp1a1* region directed by CRISPR/Cas9 machinery. Clonal isolation based on the use of cloning cylinders was applied, allowing to overcome the genetic heterogeneity created by the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Using this method, two monoclonal CRISPR edited rainbow trout cell lines were established for the first time. Sequencing analysis of the mutant clones confirmed the disruption of the *cyp1a1* gene open reading frame through the insertion of 101 or 1 base pair, respectively. **Conclusions.** The designed RNP-based CRISPR/Cas9 approach, starting from overcoming limitations of transfection to achieving a clonal cell line, sets the stage for exploiting permanent gene editing in rainbow trout, and potentially other fish cells, for unprecedented exploration of gene function.23 years ago
- Mooring with temperature and pressure loggers on lake Aegeri to observe ice growing and inverse stratification33 years ago
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a strong greenhouse gas and causal for stratospheric ozone depletion. During biological nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), high N2O fluxes to the atmosphere can occur, typically exhibiting a seasonal emission pattern. Attempts to explain the peak emission phases in winter and spring using physico-chemical process data from WWTP were so far unsuccessful and new approaches are required. The complex and diverse microbial community of activated sludge used in biological treatment systems also exhibit substantial seasonal patterns. However, a potentially causal link between the seasonal patterns of microbial diversity and N2O emissions has not yet been investigated. Here we show that in a full-scale WWTP nitrification failure and N2O peak emissions, bad settleability of the activated sludge and a turbid effluent strongly correlate with a significant reduction in the microbial community diversity and shifts in community composition. During episodes of impaired performance, we observed a significant reduction in abundance for filamentous and nitrite oxidizing bacteria in all affected reactors. In some reactors that did not exhibit nitrification and settling failures, we observed a stable microbial community and no drastic loss of species. Standard engineering approaches to stabilize nitrification, such as increasing the aerobic sludge age and oxygen availability failed to improve the plant performance on this particular WWTP and replacing the activated sludge was the only measure applied by the operators to recover treatment performance in affected reactors. Our results demonstrate that disturbances of the sludge microbiome affect key structural and functional microbial groups, which lead to seasonal N2O emission patterns. To reduce N2O emissions from WWTP, it is therefore crucial to understand the drivers that lead to the microbial population dynamics in the activated sludge.33 years ago
- The characteristics of fecal sludge delivered to treatment plants are highly variable. Adapting treatment process operations accordingly is challenging due to a lack of analytical capacity for characterization and monitoring at many treatment plants. Cost-efficient and simple field measurements such as photographs and probe readings could be proxies for process control parameters that normally require laboratory analysis. To investigate this, we evaluated questionnaire data, expert assessments, and simple analytical measurements for fecal sludge collected from 421 onsite containments. This data served as inputs to models of varying complexity. Random forest and linear regression models were able to predict physical-chemical characteristics including total solids (TS) and ammonium (NH4+-N) concentrations, and solid-liquid separation performance including settling efficiency and filtration time (R2 from 0.51-0.66) based on image analysis of photographs (sludge color, supernatant color, and texture) and probe readings (conductivity (EC) and pH). Supernatant color was the best predictor of settling efficiency and filtration time, EC was the best predictor of NH4+-N, and texture was the best predictor of TS. Predictive models have the potential to be applied for real-time monitoring and process control if a database of measurements is developed and models are validated in other cities. Simple decision tree models based on the single classifier of containment type can also be used to make predictions about citywide planning, where a lower degree of accuracy is required.73 years ago
- **Objective** Standardized face-to-face interviews are widely used to collect data in low and middle-income countries for social science and health research. Such interviews can be long and tedious. In an attempt to improve the respondents’ experience during interviews, we developed a concept of gamified interview by including a game element. Gamification is reported to increase engagement in tasks, but results from rigorously developed research are equivocal, and a theory of gamification is still needed. **Materials & methods** We conducted a randomized controlled trial to rigorously evaluate the proposed gamification based on the self-determination theory, specifically on the basic psychological needs theory. In total, 1266 respondents were interviewed. Single and multiple mediation analyses were used to understand how gamification works. **Results** Our evaluation showed that the gamification we had developed did not improve the outcome, i.e. the reported experience of the interview. The effect of gamification depended on the ability of respondents: gamification can be counterproductive if it overburdens the respondents. Finally, the basic psychological needs theory explained the mechanisms of action of gamification well: feeling competent and related to others improved the reported experience of the interview. **Conclusion** We emphasize the need to develop context-specific gamification and invite researchers to follow equivalently rigorous evaluation of gamification in future studies.23 years ago
- Standard Operation Precedures for the culture of the gill cell line from rainbow trout (RTgill-W1) and the performance of a cell viability assay based on the RTgill-W1 cells along with a data evaluation excel-template.33 years ago
- R code for mixed rate control model and first-order model with experimental data set for calibration Experiment I and II.23 years ago
- This data has been used (1) to quantify the appropriateness of a set of sanitation technologies for a small town (Katarnyia) in Nepal and (2) to generate sanitation system options from the appropriate technologies as an input into strategic sanitation planning using a structured decision making process. For (1), the appropriateness is quantified based on a set of criteria, also called screening criteria. These criteria include technical, socio-demographic, climatic, and institutional aspects and are quantified using uncertainty functions in order to account for the quality and quantity of available input information. The data contains raw data as well as modelling results. The raw data is a compilation of information collected from literature, information collected through a household survey in the small town, field observations. They are all used to describe the screening criteria for the studied sanitation technologies and the small town. Results include: (1) the outcome of the technology appropriateness assessment (technology appropriateness scores); and (2) the sanitation system options (all possible sanitation systems built from the appropriate technologies, and a smaller set of divers and highly appropriate sanitation system options as an input into decision-making).73 years ago
- This data has been used to quantify phosphorus, nitrogen, total solids, and water flows in 101'548 sanitation systems generated from 41 potential technologies appropriate for a small town (Katarnyia) in Nepal. The data contains input and output data for a didactic case as well as the full application to Katarniya. The input data is a csv file with the compiled information on the 41 technologies collected from literature on the technologies. This includes the technology appropriateness profiles and scores and in particular the transfer coefficients of the four substances in question. Results include: (1) all valid sanitation system configurations; (2) a a smaller set of divers and highly appropriate sanitation system options as an input into decision-making; (3) substance flows for phosphorus, nitrogen, total solids, and water and recovery and loss potential.63 years ago
- SUMO model for Biofilm Modelling chapter in IWA Biological Wastewater Treatment: 2nd edition.33 years ago
- This package contains images and videos of active hydraulic shortcuts in agricultural areas of the municipalities of Zürich and Rümlang, Switzerland. More information on hydraulic shortcuts and their relevance for pesticide transport in agricultural areas are provided in the following doctoral thesis: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000539927 The pictures and videos in this package are intended to be used for outreach or training of farmers, etc. and can be used freely (creative commons license). The pictures and videos were taken on 13 July 2021 between 17:23h and 17:55h (UTC+2h), a few hours after a large two-day rain event. The precipitation measured at a nearby rain gage (station Affoltern, MeteoSchweiz; 47.427694, 8.517953) equalled 41.5mm on the 12th of July, and 34.7mm on the 13th of July. The images and videos were taken at six different locations. The situations that are visible on these images and videos are described in the following. For each location, latitude and longitude is indicated in brackets (WGS84 coordinate system). - **Location 1** (47.42726, 8.52567): Surface runoff on a farm track. Since the farm track is elevated in the middle, water flows at the left and right edge of the farm track. Only at one specific location surface runoff changes from the left to the right side. - **Location 2** (47.43118, 8.52572): Surface runoff flows along one edge of a farm track. - **Location 3** (47.43580, 8.52877): Surface runoff accumulates on a potato field, flows on a asphalt road, and then into an inlet of the road storm drainage system. - **Location 4** (47.44077, 8.52534): Surface runoff flows from a corn field on an asphalt road, and then into an inlet of the road storm drainage system. - **Location 5** (47.43819, 8.50848): Surface runoff accumulates on a field with bare soil, causing erosion. At the field border with the lowest elevation, surface runoff flows onto a small asphalt road and then for around 180m along this road. Finally, the surface runoff flows into an inlet of the road storm drainage system of a larger asphalt road. - **Location 6** (47.43837, 8.50621): Surface runoff formed on grassland flows into an inlet of the storm road drainage system. This occurs either directly, or via the road.143 years ago
Title
Updated