Marielle Thomas

Prospects from agroecology and industrial ecology for animal production in the 21st century

Agroecology and industrial ecology can be viewed as complementary means for reducing the environmental footprint of animal farming systems: agroecology mainly by stimulating natural processes to reduce inputs, and industrial ecology by closing system loops, thereby reducing demand for raw materials, lowering pollution and saving on waste treatment. Surprisingly, animal farming systems have so far been ignored in most agroecological thinking. On the basis of a study by Altieri, who identified the key ecological processes to be optimized, we propose five principles for the design of sustainable animal production systems: (i) adopting management practices aiming to improve animal health, (ii) decreasing the inputs needed for production, (iii) decreasing pollution by optimizing the metabolic functioning of farming systems, (iv) enhancing diversity within animal production systems to strengthen their resilience and (v) preserving biological diversity in agroecosystems by adapting management practices. We then discuss how these different principles combine to generate environmental, social and economic performance in six animal production systems (ruminants, pigs, rabbits and aquaculture) covering a long gradient of intensification. The two principles concerning economy of inputs and reduction of pollution emerged in nearly all the case studies, a finding that can be explained by the economic and regulatory constraints affecting animal production. Integrated management of animal health was seldom mobilized, as alternatives to chemical drugs have only recently been investigated, and the results are not yet transferable to farming practices. A number of ecological functions and ecosystem services (recycling of nutrients, forage yield, pollination, resistance to weed invasion, etc.) are closely linked to biodiversity, and their persistence depends largely on maintaining biological diversity in agroecosystems. We conclude that the development of such ecology-based alternatives for animal production implies changes in the positions adopted by technicians and extension services, researchers and policymakers. Animal production systems should not only be considered holistically, but also in the diversity of their local and regional conditions. The ability of farmers to make their own decisions on the basis of the close monitoring of system performance is most important to ensure system sustainability.

Multiresidue method for the determination of 13 pesticides in three environmental matrices: water, sediments and fish muscle.

Pesticides residues in aquatic ecosystems are an environmental concern which requires efficient analytical methods. In this study, we proposed a generic method for the quantification of 13 pesticides (azoxystrobin, clomazone, diflufenican, dimethachlor, carbendazim, iprodion, isoproturon, mesosulfuron-methyl, metazachlor, napropamid, quizalofop and thifensulfuron-methyl) in three environmental matrices. Pesticides from water were extracted using a solid phase extraction system and a single solid-liquid extraction method was optimized for sediment and fish muscle, followed by a unique analysis by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Limits of quantification were below 5 ng L(-1) for water (except for fluroxypyr and iprodion) and ranged between 0.1 ng g(-1) and 57.7 ng g(-1) for sediments and regarding fish, were below 1 ng g(-1) for 8 molecules and were determined between 5 and 49 ng g(-1) for the 5 other compounds. This method was finally used as a new routine practice for environmental research.

Accumulation and half-lives of 13 pesticides in muscle tissue of freshwater fishes through food exposure

Fish are often exposed to various molecules like pesticides. Some of these compounds get biomagnified within aquatic food web, inducing health hazards of consumers. However, behaviors of many pesticides are still unknown. This work aims to study the uptake and the elimination of some of them in muscle tissue of edible fish (azoxystrobin, clomazone, diflufenican, dimethachlor, carbendazim, iprodion, isoproturon, mesosulfuron-methyl, metazachlor, napropamid, quizalofop, and thifensulfuron-methyl). Two freshwater fish species (Perca fluviatilis and Cyprinus carpio) were exposed to a mixture of these 13 pesticides, via multi-contaminated pellets, and then, eliminated. Compounds were measured in food, water and muscle tissue using multi-residues methods. Kinetics, biomagnification factors (BMFs) and half-lives (t1/2) were estimated and they did not show a large difference between the species. Muscular BMFs ranged from 2 × 10(-6) (mesosulfuron-methyl in perch) to 1 × 10(-3) (isoproturon and napropamid in perch) and t1/2 ranged from 0.8 (mesosulfuron-methyl in perch) to 40.3d (napropamid in carp). BMFs were also modeled as a function of Kow value. All BMF values were explained by the model, except for diflufenican which had a BMF lower than that expected by our modeling work, probably due to an efficient metabolism. Results led to the conclusion that none of these chemicals would probably be biomagnified within aquatic food webs.

Effects of geographic source, rearing system, and season on the nutritional quality of wild and farmed Perca fluviatilis.

The effects of season, geographic source (Lake Geneva, Rhine River), and rearing system (extensive, semiextensive, and intensive systems) on the lipid content and FA composition of fillets of Perca fluviatilis were studied. Significant differences in the total lipid content were found between fish coming from the Rhine River and Lake Geneva (1.21 and 1.48%, respectively). Seasonal effects were investigated quarterly for perch sampled in the Rhine River. Intensively reared perch displayed a higher lipid content (1.48%) than the other farmed perch, i.e., 1.26% for a semiextensive system and 1.16% for an extensive system. No significant difference in lipid content was found (i) between lacustrine fish and intensively reared fish or (ii) among fish from the Rhine River and the semiextensive or extensive rearing systems. The main FA were 22∶6n−3 (DHA, 21.3–37.1% of total FA), 16∶0 (17.7–20.2%), 20∶5n−3 (EPA, 9.2–13.2%), 18∶1 (8.0–11.5%), 20∶4n−6 [arachidonic acid (ARA), 1.9–10.7%], 16∶1 (4.3–6.0%), and 18∶2n−6 (2.1–6.0%). In comparison with perch coming from the Rhine River, the lacustrine fish were characterized by higher total n−6 PUFA and a lower proportion of both total monounsaturated FA (MUFA) and total n−3 PUFA. Among rearing systems, extensively farmed fish had higher n−6 PUFA and lower n−3 PUFA contents. Wild fish showed higher ARA and 18∶2n−6 than farmed fish. They also had significantly more EPA (12.5–13.2%) than farmed perch (9.2–10.9%). For DHA no difference existed between (i) the lacustrine fish (31.9% of total FA) and the intensively reared fish (33.0%) and (ii) the Rhine (37.1%) and semiextensively reared fish (36%). Effects of size, diet composition, and environmental conditions on the total lipid contents and FA composition are discussed.

Forty research issues for the redesign of animal production systems in the 21st century

Agroecology offers a scientific and operational framework for redesigning animal production systems (APS) so that they better cope with the coming challenges. Grounded in the stimulation and valorization of natural processes to reduce inputs and pollutions in agroecosystems, it opens a challenging research agenda for the animal science community. In this paper, we identify key research issues that define this agenda. We first stress the need to assess animal robustness by measurable traits, to analyze trade-offs between production and adaptation traits at within-breed and between-breed level, and to better understand how group selection, epigenetics and animal learning shape performance. Second, we propose research on the nutritive value of alternative feed resources, including the environmental impacts of producing these resources and their associated non-provisioning services. Third, we look at how the design of APS based on agroecological principles valorizes interactions between system components and promotes biological diversity at multiple scales to increase system resilience. Addressing such challenges requires a collection of theories and models (concept-knowledge theory, viability theory, companion modeling, etc.). Acknowledging the ecology of contexts and analyzing the rationales behind traditional small-scale systems will increase our understanding of mechanisms contributing to the success or failure of agroecological practices and systems. Fourth, the large-scale development of agroecological products will require analysis of resistance to change among farmers and other actors in the food chain. Certifications and market-based incentives could be an important lever for the expansion of agroecological alternatives in APS. Finally, we question the suitability of current agriculture extension services and public funding mechanisms for scaling-up agroecological practices and systems.

Pesticide pressure and fish farming in barrage pond in northeastern France. Part III: how management can affect pesticide profiles in edible fish?

PurposeThe quality of fish produced in ponds needs to be ensured. Indeed, pond is often strongly connected to an agricultural watershed, and pesticides are a main health and environmental issue of concern. In this context, the purpose of this study is to highlight the management practices which could impact the pesticide contamination profiles in edible fish and to give recommendations for better practices.MethodsA principal component analysis, coupled to a hierarchical cluster analysis, was performed to evaluate temporal evolution of contamination profiles and to assess variability among fish species and among sites according to watershed characteristics. The explicative variables correspond to muscular concentrations of pesticides (azoxystrobin, clomazone, diflufenican, carbendazim, isoproturon, metazachlor, napropamid) in three species of fish (Perca fluviatilis, Cyprinus carpio and Rutilus rutilus), caught in five ponds during two sampling campaigns. Management data are added variables in order to discuss about parameters suspected to be implicated in the contamination profiles recorded.ResultsThis work shows that high amounts of pesticides applied, short crop rotation durations and bare soil practices led to contamination of sediments and fish and were associated to a “bad” management of watershed. Breeding fish that had low masses and establishing the fishing period at the end of winter seemed to be “bad” management of pond. Aggravating topological parameters were big watershed coupled to small pond and high proportions of sand soils in the watershed.ConclusionsReducing amounts of pesticide used (e.g. policy agency plans, farmer acceptance), favouring long-term rotations and inter-cultures, adapting pond creation and fish farming practices to watershed management and topography all could reduce pesticide levels in edible fish and contribute to a better sustainability of the extensive fish farming in pond.

Bioaccumulation of PAHs and Their Hydroxylated Metabolites in Common Carp (Cyprinus Carpio Linnaeus 1758) in Controlled Environment

Abstract This study aimed to determine the incorporation of PAHs into muscle of Cyprinus carpio. Three model compounds (phenanthrene, pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene) were orally administered during 56 days, in a series of three increasing doses (0, 100, 500 μg of each PAHs per kg of fish). PAHs and their hydroxylated metabolites were analyzed by a HPLC-Fluorimetry method. Results of this study showed a significant increase of phenanthrene and pyrene in muscle. Benzo[a]pyrene incorporation to muscle was not effective. Concerning hydroxylated metabolites, they were not detected in muscle of carp. Steady states for phenanthrene and pyrene were obtained after 28 days of exposure. Low incorporation to muscle was observed at equilibrium for phenanthrene (6% and 3%) and pyrene (3% and 1%), depending of the dose tested.

Bioavailability and bioaccumulation of sediment‐bound polychlorinated biphenyls to carp

The relative bioavailability of sediment-bound polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs 138, 153, and 180) from a local contaminated site was examined using an in vivo carp model. Surface sediment from the PCB-contaminated site and spiked canola oil containing equivalent masses of PCBs were respectively incorporated in the sediment-dosed diets and oil-dosed diets at 3 dose levels resulting in 6 experimental diets. Juvenile carps (n = 90) were divided in 18 tanks (5 fish × 6 treatments × 3 tanks). Fish were fed the control diet during the adaptation period (15 d). Next, 1 fish was sampled in each tank and muscle tissues were combined in control groups. During the exposure period (15 d), the remaining fish were fed with 1 of the 6 experimental diets. At the end of the experiment, fish were sampled and muscle tissues were combined for each tank. The PCBs were monitored in feed and fish muscle. For both the contaminated sediment and spiked canola oil groups, concentrations of PCBs 138, 153, and 180 in muscle linearly increased with concentrations in food, with similar intercepts and slopes. In the present study, the sediment-bound PCBs were as bioavailable as those spiked into canola oil and fed to carp in a standard diet.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and hydroxylated metabolites in the muscle tissue of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) through dietary exposure during a 56-day period

Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) was exposed trophically to phenanthrene, pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene. Accumulation kinetics in the muscle tissue of parent PAHs and hydroxylated metabolites were established for 56 days at 3 levels of exposure (0, 100 and 500 μg/kg BW). Benzo[a]pyrene and 3-hydroxy-benzo[a]pyrene were not detected in the muscles. During exposure, there was an increase in phenanthrene, pyrene and their hydroxylated metabolites in the muscle tissue. Low transfer to muscle tissue was observed at equilibrium for phenanthrene (4.4±0.6% and 2.7±0.8%) and pyrene (1.0±0.2% and 0.33±0.09%), depending on the concentrations in the spiked feed.

Allelopathic potential and ecotoxicity evaluation of gallic and nonanoic acids to prevent cyanobacterial growth in lentic systems: A preliminary mesocosm study

The increase in anthropogenic nutrient loading affecting many freshwater ecosystems combined with global warming may lead to cyanobacterial blooms on an increasingly frequent basis. Among the various physicochemical and biological methods which have been proposed to rapidly control blue-green algae growth, the use of plant-derived substances such as allelochemicals has gained great interest as an environment-friendly approach. The primary aim of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of gallic and nonanoic acid application to preemptively inhibit cyanobacterial growth in lentic hydrosystems. In order to address the process feasibility under realistic exposure scenarios, thirteen outdoor freshwater mesocosms (unit volume: 3m(3)) were designed, each containing phytoplankton (including local blue-green algae species) and various non-target organisms from higher trophic levels (Physa, Lymnaea, Gammarus, and Scardinius erythrophthalmus). After an 8-week mesocosm stabilization period, a full factorial design based on the presence/absence of gallic acid (GA) and nonanoic acid (NA) (including a control group) was implemented into the exposure tanks. Regular monitoring of major phytoplankton taxa was conducted during a 28-day experiment using an on-line fluorometer. The main results suggested that gallic acid was more efficient than nonanoic acid at limiting cyanobacterial growth at concentrations as low as 1 mg L(-1). Successive gallic acid applications (at 1, 2 and 4 mg L(-1)) at the early stages of cyanobacterial growth did not allow the complete elimination of blue-green algae from the mesocosms. However, the specificity of the allelopathic effect of gallic acid towards cyanobacteria was compatible with the maintenance of a primary productivity in the treated tanks as indicated by the photoautotrophic growth of other algal taxa. Finally, no biomarker induction signal could be reported in non-target species. Further gallic acid application trials in lentic systems such as small freshwater ponds may help to design innovative allelopathy-based aquatic ecotechnologies.