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1. Novel ‘chemical cocktails' in inland waters are a consequence of the freshwater salinization syndrome

   https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2018.0017  

   Kaushal, Sujay S. ; Likens, Gene E. ; Pace, Michael L. ; Haq, Shahan ; Wood, Kelsey L. ; Galella, Joseph G. ; Morel, Carol ; Doody, Thomas R. ; Wessel, Barret ; Kortelainen, Pirkko ; et al ( January 2019 , Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences)
2. Resurrection genomics provides molecular and phenotypic evidence of rapid adaptation to salinization in a keystone aquatic species

   https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2217276120  

   Wersebe, Matthew J. ; Weider, Lawrence J. ( February 2023 , Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

   Ecologists and evolutionary biologists are increasingly cognizant of rapid adaptation in wild populations. Rapid adaptation to anthropogenic environmental change is critical for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystems services into the future. Anthropogenic salinization of freshwater ecosystems is quickly emerging as a primary threat, which is well documented in the northern temperate ecoregion. Specifically, many northern temperate lakes have undergone extensive salinization because of urbanization and the associated increase in impervious surfaces causing runoff, and the extensive use of road deicing salts (e.g., NaCl). It remains unclear whether increasing salinization will lead to extirpation of species from these systems. Using a “resurrection genomics” approach, we investigated whether the keystone aquatic herbivore,Daphnia pulicaria,has evolved increased salinity tolerance in a severely salinized lake located in Minnesota, USA. Whole-genome resequencing of 54Daphniaclones from the lake and hatched from resting eggs that represent a 25-y temporal contrast demonstrates that many regions of the genome containing genes related to osmoregulation are under selection in the study population. Tolerance assays of clones revealed that the most recent clones are more tolerant to salinity than older clones; this pattern is concomitant with the temporal pattern of stabilizing salinity in this lake. Together, our results demonstrate that keystone species such asDaphniacan rapidly adapt to increasing freshwater salinization. Further, our results indicate that rapid adaptation to salinity may allow lakeDaphniapopulations to persist in the face of anthropogenic salinization maintaining the food webs and ecosystem services they support despite global environmental change.

    

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3. Stormwater best management practices: Experimental evaluation of chemical cocktails mobilized by freshwater salinization syndrome

   https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1020914  

   Galella, Joseph G. ; Kaushal, Sujay S. ; Mayer, Paul M. ; Maas, Carly M. ; Shatkay, Ruth R. ; Stutzke, Robert A. ( April 2023 , Frontiers in Environmental Science)

   Freshwater Salinization Syndrome (FSS) refers to the suite of physical, biological, and chemical impacts of salt ions on the degradation of natural, engineered, and social systems. Impacts of FSS on mobilization of chemical cocktails has been documented in streams and groundwater, but little research has focused on the effects of FSS on stormwater best management practices (BMPs) such as: constructed wetlands, bioswales, ponds, and bioretention. However emerging research suggests that stormwater BMPs may be both sources and sinks of contaminants, shifting seasonally with road salt applications. We conducted lab experiments to investigate this premise; replicate water and soil samples were collected from four distinct stormwater feature types (bioretention, bioswale, constructed wetlands and retention ponds) and were used in salt incubation experiments conducted under six different salinities with three different salts (NaCl, CaCl₂, and MgCl₂). Increased salt concentrations had profound effects on major and trace element mobilization, with all three salts showing significant positive relationships across nearly all elements analyzed. Across all sites, mean salt retention was 34%, 28%, and 26% for Na⁺, Mg²⁺and Ca²⁺respectively, and there were significant differences among stormwater BMPs. Salt type showed preferential mobilization of certain elements. NaCl mobilized Cu, a potent toxicant to aquatic biota, at rates over an order of magnitude greater than both CaCl₂and MgCl₂. Stormwater BMP type also had a significant effect on elemental mobilization, with ponds mobilizing significantly more Mn than other sites. However, salt concentration and salt type consistently had significant effects on mean concentrations of elements mobilized across all stormwater BMPs (p< 0.05), suggesting that processes such as ion exchange mobilize metals mobilize metals and salt ions regardless of BMP type. Our results suggest that decisions regarding the amounts and types of salts used as deicers can have significant effects on reducing contaminant mobilization to freshwater ecosystems.

    

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4. Freshwater salinization syndrome limits management efforts to improve water quality

   https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1106581  

   Maas, Carly M. ; Kaushal, Sujay S. ; Rippy, Megan A. ; Mayer, Paul M. ; Grant, Stanley B. ; Shatkay, Ruth R. ; Malin, Joseph T. ; Bhide, Shantanu V. ; Vikesland, Peter ; Krauss, Lauren ; et al ( September 2023 , Frontiers in Environmental Science)

   Freshwater Salinization Syndrome (FSS) refers to groups of biological, physical, and chemical impacts which commonly occur together in response to salinization. FSS can be assessed by the mobilization of chemical mixtures, termed “chemical cocktails”, in watersheds. Currently, we do not know if salinization and mobilization of chemical cocktails along streams can be mitigated or reversed using restoration and conservation strategies. We investigated 1) the formation of chemical cocktails temporally and spatially along streams experiencing different levels of restoration and riparian forest conservation and 2) the potential for attenuation of chemical cocktails and salt ions along flowpaths through conservation and restoration areas. We monitored high-frequency temporal and longitudinal changes in streamwater chemistry in response to different pollution events (i.e., road salt, stormwater runoff, wastewater effluent, and baseflow conditions) and several types of watershed management or conservation efforts in six urban watersheds in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicates that chemical cocktails which formed along flowpaths (i.e.,permanent reaches of a stream) varied due to pollution events. In response to winter road salt applications, the chemical cocktails were enriched in salts and metals (e.g.,Na⁺, Mn, and Cu). During most baseflow and stormflow conditions, chemical cocktails were less enriched in salt ions and trace metals. Downstream attenuation of salt ions occurred during baseflow and stormflow conditions along flowpaths through regional parks, stream-floodplain restorations, and a national park. Conversely, chemical mixtures of salt ions and metals, which formed in response to multiple road salt applications or prolonged road salt exposure, did not show patterns of rapid attenuation downstream. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate variables that influence changes in chemical cocktails along flowpaths. Attenuation and dilution of salt ions and chemical cocktails along stream flowpaths was significantly related to riparian forest buffer width, types of salt pollution, and distance downstream. Although salt ions and chemical cocktails can be attenuated and diluted in response to conservation and restoration efforts at lower concentration ranges, there can be limitations in attenuation during road salt events, particularly if storm drains bypass riparian buffers.

    

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5. Assessing salinization of coastal groundwater by tidal action: The tropical Wouri Estuary, Douala, Cameroon

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100842  

   Ramatlapeng, Goabaone J. ; Atekwana, Eliot A. ; Ali, Hendratta N. ; Njilah, Isaac K. ; Ndondo, Gustave R. ( August 2021 , Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies)

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