Marcel A K Jansen

University College Cork | UCC · School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences

Rewetted peatlands represent emerging environments that combine carbon storage with green innovation supporting rural regeneration and community transitioning to low-carbon economies. This chapter describes the establishment of innovative integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) sites in peatlands areas as new bioeconomy demonstrators for viable...

In plants, secondary metabolites change in response to environmental conditions. These changes co-regulate resilience to stressful environmental conditions, plant growth and development, and interactions between plants and the wider ecosystem, while also affecting soil carbon storage and atmospheric and climatic conditions. The objective of this st...

This study determines the functional role of the plant ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) photoreceptor, UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8 (UVR8) under natural conditions using a large-scale 'synchronized-genetic-perturbation-field-experiment'. Laboratory experiments have demonstrated a role for UVR8 in UV-B responses but do not reflect the complexity of outdoor c...

The protection of Earth’s stratospheric ozone (O 3 ) is an ongoing process under the auspices of the universally ratified Montreal Protocol and its Amendments and adjustments. A critical part of this process is the assessment of the environmental issues related to changes in O 3 . The United Nations Environment Programme’s Environmental Effects Ass...

UV-B radiation can substantially impact plant growth. To study UV-B effects, broadband UV-B tubes are commonly used. Apart from UV-B, such tubes also emit UV-A wavelengths. This study aimed to distinguish effects of different UV-B intensities on Arabidopsis thaliana wildtype and UVR8 mutant rosette morphology, from those by accompanying UV-A. UV-A...

DUCKWEED FORUM, vol 12 (2), pages 39 - 43

This Assessment Update by the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) considers the interactive effects of solar UV radiation, global warming, and other weathering factors on plastics. The Assessment illustrates the significance of solar UV radiation in decreasing the durability of plastic ma...

Stomata play a pivotal role in regulating gas exchange between plants and the atmosphere controlling water and carbon cycles. Accordingly, we investigated the impact of ultraviolet-B radiation, a neglected environmental factor varying with ongoing global change, on stomatal morphology and function by a Comprehensive Meta-Analysis. The overall UV ef...

Duckweed species (Lemnaceae) are suitable for remediation and valorization of agri‐feed industry wastewaters and therefore can contribute to a more sustainable, circular economy where waste is a resource. Industrial applications will, however, require space efficient cultivation methods that are not affected by prevailing weather conditions. Here,...

Stomata play a pivotal role in regulating gas exchange between terrestrial plants and the atmosphere controlling water and carbon cycles at organismal, ecosystem and global levels. Accordingly, our objective was to investigate the impact of ultraviolet-B radiation, a neglected environmental factor varying with ongoing global change, on stomatal mor...

Plants are continuously exposed to combinations of abiotic and biotic stressors. While much is known about responses to individual stressors, understanding of plant responses to combinations of stressors is limited. The effects of combined exposure to drought and UV radiation are particularly relevant in the context of climate change. In this study...

UV-A- or UV-B-enriched growth light was given to basil plants at non-stress-inducing intensities. UV-A-enriched growth light gave rise to a sharp rise in the expression of PAL and CHS genes in leaves, an effect that rapidly declined after 1–2 days of exposure. On the other hand, leaves of plants grown in UV-B-enriched light had a more stable and lo...

Avian vectors, such as ducks, swans and geese, are important dispersers of plant propagules. Until recently, it was thought that small vegetative propagules were reliant on adherence to vectors and are unlikely to survive passage through the avian digestive tract. Here, we conclusively demonstrate that metabolically active angiosperms can survive p...

Terrestrial organisms and ecosystems are being exposed to new and rapidly changing combinations of solar UV radiation and other environmental factors because of ongoing changes in stratospheric ozone and climate. In this Quadrennial Assessment, we examine the interactive effects of changes in stratospheric ozone, UV radiation and climate on terrest...

Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging class of pollutants in air, soil and especially in all aquatic environments. Secondary MPs are generated in the environment during fragmentation of especially photo-oxidised plastic litter. Photo-oxidation is mediated primarily by solar UV radiation. The implementation of the Montreal Protocol and its Amendments,...

Metal contamination of soils is widespread across Europe and is of great concern as it may impact food production, the supply of drinking water and human health (European Environment Agency, 2014; Panagos et al., 2013). Most research to date on soil metal contamination has focussed on agricultural soils (Tóth et al., 2016a). Current knowledge of th...

In this study, growth and ionomic responses of three duckweed species were analyzed, namely Lemna minor, Landoltia punctata, and Spirodela polyrhiza, were exposed for short-term periods to hexavalent chromium or nickel under laboratory conditions. It was found that different duckweed species had distinct ionomic patterns that can change considerabl...

In vitro culturing can generate plants with a distorted morphology. Some distortions affect the plant’s survival after transfer to an ex vitro environment, while others can affect the aesthetic value. Therefore, exogenous hormones are often applied in in vitro cultures to modulate plant architecture. In this study, it was hypothesised that regulato...

UV-B and UV-A radiation are natural components of solar radiation that can cause plant stress, as well as induce a range of acclimatory responses mediated by photoreceptors. UV-mediated accumulation of flavonoids and glucosinolates is well documented, but much less is known about UV effects on carotenoid content. Carotenoids are involved in a range...

Duckweed (Lemnaceae) can support the development of freshwater aquaculture if used as extractive species in Integrated MultiTrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) systems. These aquatic plants have the advantage of producing protein-rich biomass that has several potential uses. On the contrary, other biological compartments, such as microalgae and bacteria, pr...

The growth and nutrient uptake capacity of a common duckweed (Lemnaceae) species, Lemna minor "Blarney", on dairy processing wastewater pre-treated by an anaerobic digester (AD-DPW) was explored. L. minor was cultivated in small stationary vessels in a controlled indoor environment , as well as in a semi-outdoor 35 L recirculatory system. The use o...

Among abiotic stressors, drought and enhanced ultraviolet radiation (UV) received a lot of attention, because of their potential to impair plant growth. Since drought and UV induce partially similar protective mechanisms, we tested the hypothesis that UV ameliorates the effect of reduced water availability (WA) in selected grass (Holcus mollis and...

Given its high biomass production, phytoremediation capacity and suitability as a feedstock for animal and human nutrition, duckweeds are valuable multipurpose plants that can underpin circular economy applications. In recent years, the use of duckweeds to mitigate environmental pollution and valorise wastewaters through the removal of excess nitro...

Understanding the fate of plastics in the environment is of critical importance for the quantitative assessment of the biological impacts of plastic waste. Specially, there is a need to analyze in more detail the reputed longevity of plastics in the context of plastic degradation through oxidation and fragmentation reactions. Photo-oxidation of pla...

UV-B (λ280–315 nm) radiation is an important aquatic ecosystem regulator which influences animal motility and orientation, immune health, and mating behaviour. However, UV-B can also induce adverse genotoxic effects on microbial, plant and animal life, including on surface water pathogens such as Vibrio species which can be pathogenic to humans and...

The authors report on the design and operation of an advanced, innovative and environmentally friendly freshwater integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) system. The novel system facilitates fish production while controlling water quality using duckweed treatment units. The basic design consists of ponds for farming of Eurasian perch and rainbow...

Tocopherols are lipophilic antioxidants in plants. Their potential role in protecting UV-B exposed plants has been alluded to, but not shown. Here we have determined UV-B induced accumulation of tocopherol in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and asked 1) whether induction relies on UV-B application duration, 2) if UV (UVR8) or blue light (photo...

The aim of the Newtrients project was to develop an innovative exemplar of a circular economy approach to the production of novel, value-added products from dairy industry wastewater. This was successfully achieved. Newtrients has shown that compostable bioplastics can be generated from dairy waste, rather than from fossil fuels. In addition, it wa...

Induction of metabolite biosynthesis and accumulation is one of the most prominent UV-mediated changes in plants, whether during eustress (positive response) or distress (negative response). However, despite evidence suggesting multiple linkages between UV exposure and carotenoid induction in plants, there is no consensus in the literature concerni...

The Lemnaceae (duckweed) are a family of aquatic plants which can be used as part of a circular economy approach to remediate and valorise wastewater. The suitability of duckweeds relates to their tolerance of wastewater conditions, fast growth rates and valuable biomass. Duckweed species and clones display a wide range of remediation abilities and...

Microplastics are considered freshwater pollutants of emerging concern. Although microplastics have been identified in a range of taxa, only a limited number of studies have focussed on the trophic transfer of microplastics. The duckweed Lemna minor can act as a microplastic vector in a model freshwater food chain. Here we show for the first time s...

The Environmental Effects Assessment Panel of the Montreal Protocol under the United Nations Environment Programme evaluates effects on the environment and human health that arise from changes in the stratospheric ozone layer and concomitant variations in ultraviolet (UV) radiation at the Earth’s surface. The current update is based on scientific a...

Invasive aquatic macrophytes tend to reproduce and spread through vegetative means, often via fragmentary propagules. Dispersal among aquatic sites may occur overland via attachment to various vectors, or within river systems by directional water currents. However, for many species the relationship between fragment size and resumption of growth is...

Vibrio bacteria are one of the greatest threats to aquaculture, with Vibrio-associated mass mortality events occurring in all life stages worldwide. Vibrio aestuarianus is particularly problematic in Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas cultures. A diagnostic method used to detect V. aestuarianus is quantitative (q)PCR and a confirmatory method is fluo...

The aquaculture industry is considered a key sector for the supply of high quality, nutritious food. However, growth of the aquaculture sector has been slow, particularly in Europe, and this is amongst others linked to concerns about environmental impacts of this industry. Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) has been identified as an importa...

Environmental conditions to which plants acclimate prior exposure to abiotic or biotic stressors can greatly affect their subsequent resilience. This may have a significant impact on the response to ongoing climate change and can be useful for increasing the food security under adverse weather conditions associated with climate change.Within this s...

Lemnaceae, i.e., duckweed species, have gained considerable attention as a sustainable source of high-quality nutrition, biofuel, and pharmaceuticals, as well as effective organisms for phytoremediation of wastewaters. A protein content of up to 45% makes duckweed biomass nutritionally interesting as an ingredient for animal feeds or human food. Ou...

Interactions between climate change and UV penetration in the biosphere are resulting in exposure of plants to new combinations of UV radiation and drought. In theory, impacts of combinations of UV and drought may be additive, synergistic or antagonistic. Lack of understanding of impacts of combined treatments creates substantial uncertainties that...

Aquaculture is an important source of animal protein and a key contributor to global food security. However, aquaculture can exert a negative effect on the aquatic environment due to the release of effluents containing high nutrient levels. In integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), the waste produced by one species is the input for another, r...

Invasive alien species can negatively impact on newly colonised ecosystems. Thus, it is important to understand factors that facilitate invasiveness. Genetic diversity will enable a species to exploit a variety of environmental conditions. Yet, the process of dispersal to a new ecosystem will commonly create a genetic bottleneck and, hence, result...

The aquatic Lemnaceae family, commonly called duckweed, comprise some of the smallest and fastest growing angiosperms known on Earth. Their tiny size, rapid growth by clonal propagation, and facile uptake of labeled compounds from the media were attractive features that made them a well-known model for plant biology from 1950-1990. Interest in duck...

The aquatic Lemnaceae family, commonly called duckweed, comprise some of the smallest and fastest growing angiosperms known on Earth. Their tiny size, rapid growth by clonal propagation, and facile uptake of labeled compounds from the media were attractive features that made them a well-known model for plant biology from 1950-1990. Interest in duck...

As part of a circular economy (CE) approach to food production systems, Lemnaceae, i.e., duckweed species, can be used to remediate wastewater due to rapid nutrient assimilation and tolerance of non-optimal growing conditions. Further, given rapid growth rates and high protein content, duckweed species are a valuable biomass. An important considera...

This is the valid version of the Supplementary Material

Ultraviolet (UV)-A- or UV-B-enrichment of growth light resulted in a stocky cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) phenotype exhibiting decreased stem and petiole lengths and leaf area. Effects were larger in plants grown in UV-B- than in UV-A-enriched light. In plants grown in UV-A-enriched light, decreases in stem and petiole lengths were similar independ...

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Lemnaceae, i.e. duckweed species, are attractive for phytoremediation of wastewaters, primarily due to their rapid growth, high nutrient uptake rates, tolerance to a broad range of growing conditions and ability to expeditiously assimilate a variety of pollutants. Light is essential for plant growth, and therefore, phytoremediation. Nevertheless, t...

Plastic pollution is a new, pressing, environmental topic. Microplastics are considered contaminants of emerging concern and, consequently, microplastic research has grown exponentially in the last decade. Here, current knowledge regarding the impacts of micro- and nanoplastics on terrestrial plants and aquatic macrophytes is discussed, with a spec...

Ultraviolet (UV)-A- or UV-B-enrichment of growth light resulted in a stocky cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) phenotype exhibiting decreased stem and petiole lengths and leaf area. Effects were larger in plants grown in UV-B- than in UV-A-enriched light. In plants grown in UV-A-enriched light, decreases in stem and petiole lengths were similar independ...

This assessment by the Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provides the latest scientific update since our most recent comprehensive assessment (Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences, 2019, 18, 595–828). The interactive effects between the stratospheric ozone layer, solar ultraviolet...

Aim: To provide an overview of micro- and nano-sized plastic pollution of inland waters, including associated risks and hazards. Main concepts covered: Origin and distribution of micro- and nanoplastics in the freshwater environment, and potential biological impacts. Main methods covered: Protocols for monitoring of plastics in the natural environm...

Using dill (Anethum graveolens L.) as a model herb, we reveal novel associations between metabolite profile and sensory quality, by integrating non-target metabolomics with sensory data. Low night temperatures and exposure to UV-enriched light was used to modulate plant metabolism, thereby improving sensory quality. Plant age is a crucial factor as...

Monitoring studies have revealed the presence of large numbers of natural as well as anthropogenic microfibers, plastic and non-plastic, in environmental samples. However, the interaction of organisms with microfibers is largely understudied. This is the first ecotoxicological study that compares short-term feeding of anthropogenic plastic and non-...

Microplastics have become ubiquitous in all environments. Yet, their environmental fate is still largely unknown. Plastic fragmentation is a key component of plastic degradation, which is mostly caused by abiotic processes over prolonged time scales. Here, it is shown that the freshwater amphipod Gammarus duebeni can rapidly fragment polyethylene m...

Sustainable production of high-quality food is one of today’s major challenges of agriculture. To achieve this goal, a better understanding of plant physiological processes and a more integrated approach with respect to current agronomical practices are needed. In this review, various examples of cooperation between integrative plant physiology and...

This assessment, by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP), one of three Panels informing the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, provides an update, since our previous extensive assessment (Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2019, 18, 595–828), of recent findings of current and projected interactive en...

AimsThis study was conducted to answer the question of whether elevated CO2 and the presence or absence of inorganic nitrogen (NH4+) affect the uptake of different forms of organic nitrogen in two dominant saltmarsh species Schoenoplectus americanus and Spartina patens.MethodsS. americanus and S. patens were grown under elevated and ambient CO2 con...

Lemna sect. Uninerves Hegelm. consists of three species, Lemna minuta Kunth (synonym L. minuscula), L. valdiviana Phil. and L. yungensis Landolt. Lemna yungensis was discovered growing on rocks in the Yungas in Bolivia by E. Landolt and was described just 20 years ago. In the original description, Landolt reported that this species is closely relat...

Lemnaceae are being exploited to remediate a variety of different wastewaters. Our aim was to remediate dairy processing waste, which is produced in large amounts, and contains valuable plant nutrients, for example, nitrate, ammonium, phosphate and iron. However, initial trials failed to establish the growth of Lemna minor on this medium. A lack of...

Lemnaceae are being exploited to remediate a variety of different wastewaters. Our aim was to remediate dairy processing waste, which is produced in large amounts, and contains valuable plant nutrients, for example, nitrate, ammonium, phosphate and iron. However, initial trials failed to establish the growth of Lemna minor on this medium. A lack of...

Changes in stratospheric ozone and climate over the past 40-plus years have altered the solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation conditions at the Earth’s surface. Ozone depletion has also contributed to climate change across the Southern Hemisphere. These changes are interacting in complex ways to affect human health, food and water security, and ecosyste...

Microplastics (1-1000 μm) are ubiquitous in the marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments. These microsized plastics are considered freshwater pollutants of emerging concern, although the impacts on organisms and ecosystems are not yet clear. In particular, effects of microplastics on freshwater aquatic plants and the fate of microplastics in...

Research on plant UV‐B responses commenced in earnest following discovery of stratospheric ozone layer depletion in the 1970s. Initial research focussed mostly on UV stress, including damage to genetic material (DNA, RNA) and negative impacts on photosynthesis and growth. A second phase of research centred on UV‐B acclimation including photorepair,...