Science topic
Food Chain - Science topic
The sequence of transfers of matter and energy from organism to organism in the form of food. Food chains intertwine locally into a food web because most organisms consume more than one type of animal or plant. Plants, which convert solar energy to food by photosynthesis, are the primary food source. In a predator chain, a plant-eating animal is eaten by a larger animal. In a parasite chain, a smaller organism consumes part of a larger host and may itself be parasitized by smaller organisms. In a saprophytic chain, microorganisms live on dead organic matter.
Questions related to Food Chain
Manuscript Summary Submission Deadline: 31 December 2024
Manuscript Submission Deadline: 30 April 2025
The field of research focuses on the pervasive issue of plastic and microplastic contamination within global food systems. As the global population is projected to reach ten billion by 2050, there is an urgent need to increase food production by 50%, which places immense pressure on existing supply chains. The food industry currently produces vast quantities of protein and vegetables, often packaged in plastic, contributing significantly to global plastic production. Despite its versatility, plastic packaging has led to a substantial waste burden, with less than 10% being recycled globally. This waste transforms into micro and nanoplastics, posing severe risks to human health and the environment, including soil fertility loss and contamination of the food chain. While plastic pollution has been a well-documented environmental concern, its impacts on food systems are still in the early stages of exploration. This special issue aims to address these challenges comprehensively, focusing on sustainable and resilient global food systems through analytical techniques and mitigation strategies.
This research topic aims to explore the detection and reduction of plastic and microplastics across the entire food chain, from extraction and production to disposal. The main objectives include assessing the sources and impacts of microplastics in food systems, evaluating the effects of plastic usage in agriculture and aquaculture, and identifying alternatives to agricultural plastics. Additionally, the research seeks to understand the contamination of foods with microplastics, the migration of plastic additives into food, and the socioeconomic dimensions of exposure to microplastics through the food supply chain. By addressing these questions, the research aims to contribute to policy and global sustainable development efforts.
To gather further insights into the boundaries of plastic and microplastic contamination in food systems, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Microplastic sources in food systems from agriculture and aquaculture
- Effects of plastic usage in agricultural production on soil and crops
- Plastic usage in aquaculture and its effects on cultivated species and the surrounding environment
- Alternatives to agricultural plastics and their potential effects on soil, crops, and human health
- Contribution of wastewater sludge to the dispersion and increase of microplastic loadings in agricultural production and marine pollution
- Contamination of foods with microplastics and migration of plastic additives into food via plastic packaging
- Microplastics in processed and unprocessed foods and their potential impacts on human health
- Socioeconomic dimensions of exposure to microplastics through the food supply chain
Keywords: Soil pollution, food safety, agroecosystem, microplastic, food contamination, aquaculture
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Fungi.
All of them decompose other dead organisms: "Fungi are important decomposers, especially in forests" ( https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/decomposers/ 19 oct 2023). Decomposing the dead is the literally ultimate form of predation.
"The earliest life forms we know of were microscopic organisms (microbes) that left signals of their presence in rocks about 3.7 billion years old" ( https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/teaching-resources/life-science/early-life-earth-animal-origins ).
Microbes are sometimes fungi:
"They(microbes) include bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, some green algae, and viruses" ( https://www.energy.gov/science/doe-explainsmicrobiology ).
- Rising Global Temperatures: The challenge of rising global temperatures due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases from human activities is a defining issue of the century. This phenomenon, often referred to as global warming, leads to a cascade of effects such as melting ice caps, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events. It directly impacts ecosystems, communities, and economies worldwide.
- Biodiversity Loss: The loss of biodiversity, driven by habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change, is a major challenge. As species struggle to adapt to changing conditions, ecosystems become imbalanced, threatening food chains, natural processes, and the stability of ecosystems that humanity relies upon.
- Extreme Weather Events: More frequent and severe hurricanes, droughts, floods, and wildfires are becoming increasingly common due to climate change. These events cause widespread devastation, displacement of communities, economic disruptions, and loss of life.
- Ocean Acidification and Coral Bleaching: The increasing concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere not only warms the planet but also leads to ocean acidification. This affects marine life, particularly coral reefs. Coral bleaching, caused by warming ocean temperatures, disrupts marine ecosystems and livelihoods dependent on them.
- Disruption of Water Resources: Climate change alters precipitation patterns, leading to water scarcity in some regions and more intense rainfall in others. This disruption impacts agriculture, water supply, and sanitation, exacerbating challenges for communities already vulnerable to water stress.
- Climate Migration and Refugees: Rising sea levels, extreme weather, and resource scarcity can force populations to migrate or become displaced, potentially leading to social, political, and economic conflicts as well as humanitarian crises.
- Energy Transition and Carbon Neutrality: Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is a monumental challenge. Achieving global carbon neutrality requires systemic changes in energy production, consumption patterns, and technological innovation.
- International Collaboration and Policy: The challenge of fostering international cooperation and agreement to address climate change is crucial. Climate issues cross national boundaries, necessitating cohesive global efforts and policies.
- Equity and Climate Justice: The impacts of climate change disproportionately affect vulnerable communities and low-income countries. Achieving climate justice and ensuring that the burden and benefits of mitigation and adaptation are equitably distributed is a significant challenge.
- Communication and Public Awareness: Effective communication about the urgency and complexity of climate change is a challenge. Ensuring that the public is informed and engaged is vital to garner support for policy changes and individual actions.
The question asks about the potential factors of how GMOs affect the food chain and the natural balance of evolution and how can we mitigate these risks?
The long-term costs of plastic pollution in Nigeria include the potential for toxic chemicals to enter the food chain. Plastic waste can break down into microplastics, which can absorb and accumulate harmful chemicals and be ingested by marine life. This can lead to the bioaccumulation of toxins in the food chain, posing a risk to both wildlife and human health. Addressing this issue requires improved waste management practices, increased public awareness, and the development of sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics. Failure to address the long-term costs of plastic pollution in Nigeria could have significant implications for public health and the environment.
The environmental cost of plastic pollution refers to the negative impact that plastic waste has on the natural environment, including both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. This impact can take many forms, such as entanglement of wildlife, ingestion of plastic by animals, and disruption of food webs. Plastic waste can also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, as well as soil and water pollution. The long-term effects of plastic pollution on the environment are still largely unknown, but they could have far-reaching consequences for ecosystems and human health. Addressing the environmental cost of plastic pollution requires a comprehensive approach, including reducing the use of single-use plastics, promoting recycling and waste reduction, and implementing policies to hold companies accountable for their environmental impact.
Dear colleagues
I am writing because I wonder which method to use to study the impact of cormorants guano on soil animal food webs. I want to get to know which animal feed on guano. Firstly, I thought to use carbon and nitrogen isotopes, but I heard about fatty acids.
Which method will be best for this study?
Best regards
Mateusz Oszust
The Global AI in the Supply chain market reached USD 5,610.8 Million in 2021a across the globe. Increasing attention to artificial intelligence, large statistics, and analytics, and a widening scope are all driving AI growth in the supply chain market globally. Every autonomous and semi-autonomous program implements computer vision. There are several players operating in the global AI in the supply chain market, including FedEx, McLane Company, DHL, Amazon, CSX, XPO Logistics, C.H, and others. The machine learning segment accounted for the largest share of the global AI in the supply chain market.
I tried to find these answers through my research article.
- Importance of AI and how will impact in Supply chain in the mid-and long-term?
- What are the ubiquitous movements in AI in the Supply chain?
- What are the key strategies adopted by leading companies in the AI in Supply chain logistics?
- How the implementation of AI can make the Supply chain more efficient?
What is the function of food webs in river ecosystems
I'm doing stable isotope analysis to construct a reservoir food web. For that, I need to collect zooplankton and phytoplankton separately. The use of different mesh sizes solved the problem to some extent but can't obtain pure samples. Are there any methods other than that?
What problems will arise if there is either an increase or decrease in the number of any component in a food chain or a food web?
Co-contamination of fluoride- arsenic , arsenic-lead are prevalent due to geo-genic issues. Sometimes they are also associated with high iron content in ground water. Is co-contamination behave differently in the food cycle in comparison to single contamination?
Today there is no an alternative to the concept of sustainable development. Co-evolutionary paradigm is a theoretical and methodological basis for sustainable development of the “biosphere – society” system that is possible through creating the biosphere reserves, ecological network, reserve management, and use of renewable resources (solar, wind, wave, geothermal). Establishing an ecological network actually improves the condition biogeocenosis of Ukraine due to: stabilization of the hydrological regime (protection of surface and groundwater), stop of erosion, improvement of soil, conservation of renewable resources, maintenance of the balance in the natural processes, support of the natural migration of species and biota, reduction in pollution of the environment. However, we can expect positive changes in social and economic plan: historic preservation and development of environmentally friendly forms of farming (apiculture, fish farming, organic animal husbandry, and horticulture), optimization of the use of different areas and their spatial location in the environmental context, creation of comfortable for health living conditions.
What is advisable to do ? It is important for society to have time to realize that the reduction of the natural landscape and biological diversity to buffer threshold value eliminates the stability of the environment that can be restored only through the creation of sewage treatment plants, low-waste production or organic farming.
Аccording to the analysis of literary sources the Fibonacci numbers and the regularity called «golden average»/«golden section» were analyzed. Сybernetic principle of ecosystems genetic memory as biotic diversity was characterized. The combination of the gene pool of biodiversity within the biosphere should be interpreted advisable as a regulatory mechanism for maintaining homeostasis of this mega ecosystem. The first time the possibility of transition to sustainable (balanced) development of «biosphere – society» system based on the principles of the «golden section» was researched, which provides for mandatory the ratio between cultural and natural landscapes at 62% and 38% respectively. It means that biosphere reserves of biological and landscape diversity (resuscitation area of the biosphere) should be created on 38% of the territory of the planet), and other 62% should be occupied by artificial agro and urboecosystems with balanced nature usage.
It is advisable to stick to the concept of natural «golden section», which mandates the relationship between cultural and natural landscapes of the planet at 62 % and 38 % respectively. Humanity must go to the autotrophy. Today it is growing the adapted to adverse environmental conditions plants and receiving high-calorie, high- protein foods. The most important fact is that a human is destined to go down the food chain including the consumption of soy protein rather than to lose 90 % of the energy of food to feed the animals.
It is expedient for humanity (only intelligent sapiens) to listen to the wisdom of nature ("Nature knows best") and move to a balanced use of nature on the basis of coevolutionary symbiotic coexistence of the "society-biosphere" system, where the biosphere is the master and man is the symbiotic consumer. We consider the coevolutionary paradigm as a theoretical and methodological substantiation of the possibility of sustainable development
So far, most of methods about inferring the trophic or ecological interactions take account of the circumstance of aquatic ecosystem. Many methods have emerged, such as the method based on body size (Gravel and Poisot et al., 2013) and the method based on published data (Gray and Figueroa et al., 2015). However, these methods have many limitations when applied to terrestrial ecosystems. Are there any generic methods to infer the trophic interactions in terrestrial ecosystems?
Any helpful answers would be appreciated!
Best wishes.
Reference
Gray, C. and D. H. Figueroa, et al. (2015). "Joining the dots: An automated method for constructing food webs from compendia of published interactions." Food Webs 5: 11-20.
Gravel, D. and T. Poisot, et al. (2013). "Inferring food web structure from predator-prey body size relationships." Methods in Ecology and Evolution 4 (11): 1083-1090.
I have read many papers for this subject. However, many startups are proposing new DLTs for this aiam. Many are based on Ethereum ecossystem, but other ones can be proposed using Cardano, NEO, etc. There is also other DLTs not based on blockchains, for example IOTA. So, what are the best DLTs to develop a new research on fresh food chain with IoT and AI, for instance?
does any pesticide have been reported to be biomagnified through the food chain or they are more specific to bio-conversation, can it be interlinked, correlated, or have any factors of conversion for different pesticides with species specificity?
Is it possible to find studies about palm oil in the beginning of the value chain where post harvest losses are evaluated, especially in big production countries Indonesia and Malaysia? Post-harvest food loss here refers to a decrease in quantity and/ or quality of food mass on the supply side of the food chain
I need the info to draw a food chain, but didn't get any relevant literature.
Population growth is a very important parameter in ecological research and laboratory modeling. Even if you find the optimum conditions and nutrition media for an unidentified nematode species, the rate of growth (in pertdishes) is so variable, that you cannot construct the working prediction model. Now I work with nematodes, panagrolaims and didlogastrids from bark of deciduous trees, and I define the single generation cycle time and a fecundity rate (egg laying) per female. However, the futher calculations do not correspond the values which I obtained for the populations as a whole, in the same petridishes. Therefore it is not easy to use the formula for the real ecological processes in the detritus food web. Do you know some publications with right approach to obtain the population growth formula?
Could there have been some subtle underlying, seemingly unidentifiable cause of death that combined with the closely related catastrophes (eg asteroid impact hypothesis and/or disruption in animal food chain), these got me thinking because discerning virus effects in geological past is not a common practice in geology as far as I can relate, but I am open to insights from experts in this regard. Thank you
Good Morning everyone,
We have conducted studies with microplastic (MP) contamination in different food web levels in an estuary. Now we would like to analyse which heavy metal and POPs which were adsorbed by
MP. In addition, we would like also to analyse the MP in relation to their chemical components. In this way, I ask you, if you know a laboratory which has an interest in realising these analyses.
Thank you very much for your attention,
With my very best regards,
Mario Barletta
Pesticide residue refers to the pesticides that may remain on or in food after they are applied to food crops. Many of these chemical residues, especially derivatives of chlorinated pesticides or organophosphate pesticides exhibit bio-accumulation which could build up to harmful levels in the body as well as in the environment.Persistent chemicals can be magnified through the food chain and have been detected in products ranging from meat, and fish, to rice, cereals, nuts, and various fruits and vegetables.
In the European Union (EU), before any PPP can be placed on the market or used, it must be Authorised in the EU country concerned. It means that each Member State can decide if Authorise the PPP: https://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/pesticides/authorisation_of_ppp_en
While, the active component against pests/plant diseases, contained in the PPP, that is called
“active substance”, have to be Approved or non-Approved at European level of the Standing Committee for Food Chain and Animal Health: https://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/pesticides/approval_active_substances_en
Therefore, there are two level: 1) European level for the active substances; 2) Member State level for the PPPs.
Question for discussion:
1) How is the procedure in your country: one or more levels? Please, give explanation and references.
2) Do you think that only one central procedure can ensure to speed up and harmonize the decisions? Please, give pros & cons.
3) Do you think that each country should have a legislation more harmonized for pesticide (and food/feed residues) with the Codex Alimentarius? Please, give pros & cons.
Thanks.
It has been reported that climate change has drifted from its norm in an unprecedented manner since the 1950s. What is the effect of such a climate change on global water resources and world's agriculture? How does this relate to the Malthusian Theory of Population?
It is known that prey birds have frontal vision (attack) whereas pigeons have lateral vision (defense). Do we have other principles observed among animals, mammals, insects, etc?
Keywords: biology, visual perception, food chain, survival instinct
Several methods are available such as phytoremediation, washing, eletrokinetic treatment, and vitrification etc. So, which technique is more feasible and effective?
The US military has extensive experience in operating bases around the world, including in Europe. As military personnel have been exposed to environmental toxins, a body of knowledge on various diseases has been accumulated. https://www.hillandponton.com/ultrafine-particle-exposure-and-your-va-disability-claim/ and other diseases found at Ultra-fine particles are found in jet fuels and in auto exhaust as well as in volcanic particulate as found in Catania, Sicily. All of these cause NCD harm to the body. The allowable levels of glyphosate in food or the use of GMO laden soybeans for animal feed also allow for toxins to enter the food chain. Looking at epidemiology studies from other countries will give insight for example on the rate of brain pathologies in children (autism rates) with a 0.98 correlation to tons of glyhphosate applied in the US. Glyphosate residue on US grains is found at 2000 parts per billion in US ready-to-eat cereals and rolled oats. Glyphosate damages gut bacteria, kidney, liver, and cardiovascular system and compromises the immune system allowing for NCDs.
Hi food web colleagues, diet experts...etc
Our last project started from the crazy idea to build a comprehensive benthic topology food web for the whole North Sea. It quickly seemed impractical for only a few human-beings as we lack data for most non-commercial species. It took almost two years to focus on 152 species, project that got reduced to 50 or so species for practicality.
We still want to go for it but I think we need to find the right people who might have the diet data we need or know where to find them (in situ, lab feeding experiments, published or unpublished data, or inference from other species).
Do you have diet information on species in the North Sea? Know someone who does? We could start from there.
Hi,
I am moving from analyzing food web network to bipartite network and I was wondering if anyone knew where to start? What books/articles I must read?
I am especially interested in the metrics I could use (modularity among others). Have an overview of those metrics...etc
I screened through the 'bipartite' package in R.
Thanks in advance,
Emerging contaminants affect the food chain in long term process. I am looking for material related to this topic????
In the modern phylogenies of the Nematoda phylum based of combination of molecular and morphological characters, the parasites mostly situated in the advanced (terminal) clades in lines where the basal clades are bacteriophages or fungivores involved in the detritus food web. If it is a general way of evolution, what can be the cause and survival profit to change the detritus food web for the parasitic habits, with sometimes so complicated life cycles of parasites?
Manufacturing became one of the major sources for earning foreign currency. But it pollute the environment in various ways. Water pollution is a great problem, as industries throw chemical wastes into the water bodies. As a result the DO of surface waters decreasing at alarming rate, that finally threats the aquatic plants and animals. It also had negative impacts on human lifestyles, e.g. fishermen became bound to change their profession. It also have adverse impacts on the food chains. What can be done to reduce this sort of water pollution?
What are the effects of transgenic DNA in the soil food web? What consequences, if any will these have on soil health?
Ever increasing population, urbanization and modernization are posing problems of sewage disposal and contamination of surface waters like lakes. Species and habitat dynamics in the face of climate change are complex and have many aspects. Increased temperatures and CO2 concentrations will have an effect on different processes such as photosynthesis, respiration and decomposition and generally speed up these processes. Climate-induced changes in ice cover period, thermal stratification and nutrient availability and longer growing seasons affect species composition and food web structures.
I need the values to explain the wetability properties.
Please see my project details for more information.
Thank you kindly for your interest.
Renier P. du Plessis
Hello evryone!!
I'm a PhD student and I work on planktonic food webs functioning.
So from my data, i should seperate autotrophic planktonic cells from hetrotrophic cells because i work on the grazing activity of microzooplankton on phytoplankton...one of my species called Prorocentrum which is a Dinoflagellate. in Some articles i found that it is an autotrophic dinoflgellate some others said that it is mixotrophic organisms..May you help me to take decision if i should considerate it as autotrophic (so as a prey) or hetrotrophic one (so as a grazer)....
Thank you for advance!!
A few months ago I saw an article which described a game to play with students to illustrate bioaccumulation in the aquatic food chain using pennies. Could someone please provide me with the reference?
Thanks,
Jena
I asked about WHO standards of heavy metals concentration in Marshes water and their accumulated concentration in fishes tissues and consequently impact on human health through food chain .
We are traing to oarganize a big project on the Mediterranean food Chain, grains!
I wonder how much calories can be produced for humans in a year, as beef and dairy products, out of 1 hectare farm of alfalfa?
Consequent to some food-borne incidents in recent years, there have been significant increase in public health concern and decrease in consumer confidence. Despite significant advances in detection tools, regulations, monitoring and consumer education on food safety, reports of food borne illness outbreaks continue to increase. Within the supply chain which is increasingly becoming more complex in the globalized market, adulteration (unintentional or intentional) is the key food safety issue. Increase in imports of food/processed food items due to cost concerns, availability and consumer demand for diverse food products also provide chances for food contamination/adulteration. Regulatory bodies are comforting with major food safety issues including changes in our food production and supply, environmental changes leading to food contamination, new and emerging bacteria, toxins, and antibiotic resistance and consumer preferences and habits leading to increase in imported foods. At this juncture, what should be the effective strategies to address the emerging challenges to provide safe, healthy, nutritious and sustainable produced food to the world's population?
We, in Algeria, are actively searching partners from Europeans countries in order to submit a proposal in animal or food field:
Topics:
2.2 Preventing emergence of animal and plant pests and diseases.
3.2 Food safety and quality in local food chains
Deadline is close, if we can't this year, we should be ready for the next cal!
I am modeling the radionuclide transfer of radio nuclides to food chain and have failed to calculate the activity dN/dt directly since a sample contains many radioisotopes.
Working on a manuscript looking at the effects of irrigation diversion points on fishes in small streams. Particularly the effects on fish abundance, biomass, diversity, community food-chain length, and carbon isotope range.
Wondering which journal would be best-suited for submitting this article to. Or any upcoming "special issues" that might be suitable? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
I am aware of some work on the affects of anthelmintics on the fauna feeding on dung but was keen to find if wider work has been done on their effects on wider range of pasture insects and the consequence effects on species that feed on them in particular birds. Changes in land use are and to some extent predation are cited as causes of decline of some species of farmland bird, however for some the impact of veterinary medicines on food chains is also a possible contributor and I am keen to find out who and where such wok may have been carried out. Any thoughts welcome.
Top-down controls are used to describe effects of consumers on primary production while bottom-up is the effect of the producers on their consumers. However, what if they are both affected at the same time? Do we still consider from both sides or is there another better method of properly analysing the effect on the particular food chain?
I am working on food web stoichiometry and I'm looking for a literature on constrains that may be posed on the bees' development because of N and P scarcity in pollen. Herbivores in general are N and P limited. Is this also true for pollen eaters (pollen is a concentrated sustenance, rich in nutrients)?
Thanks in advance!
Quite often in environmental-economic literature (e.g. The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity) welfare theory is used to calculate the supply of "ecosystem services" in "natural capital accounting" (NCA)?
I am interested in literature which views ecosystems in different ways, especially from a "network" perspective. For example, a food web or food chain seem to me to have network structures. Do you have any suggestions about the most important references in this field?
Hello all,
Does anyone know of research indicating that large-polyp stony corals (e.g. Tubastraea coccinea) prey on ichthyoplankton? I am aware that there are several studies that indicate that they can prey on copepods and crustacean nauplius. Generally, I am considering if reefs dominated by predatory corals are more hazardous to settling fish larva than reefs dominated by primary consumer bivalves. I have evidence indicating the bivalves in question are generally primary consumers and the corals are secondary consumers.
Best,
Ryan
Describe phytogeographical elements for the ecological sustainability of a species? List out the phytogeographical elements........
Plants are known naturally to absorb trace minerals (P, Fe, Cu, etc.) from the soil. Some plants, however, are hyperaccumulators, in the sense that they uptake extremely high amounts of a certain mineral. Does this have anything to do with the metabolism of the plant, or is it a product of environmental conditions?
Knowing that they are the only species who can utilize iron this way -- as additional protection and defense from predators through their shells made of iron sulfide -- what are possible threats they can experience from their predators?
Both macro and microphytes in aquatic environments
Just got a tricky question from a journalist. Is there any data out there on which body parts / organs different mammalian carnivores eat first? She had heard that most predators start with the internal organs. I sthere any data on this?
We are planning on developing a project on potential use of fly ash generated from thermal power plants. It has both a number of potentials and pitfalls for use in aquaculture. There is risk of a number of environmental risks especially heavy metal contamination. It used in fish pond there will be risk of transfer of contaminants along the food chain. How the project's aim and objectives can be drawn, the technical design and work plan can be made. Above all, how the pre-application treatment of fly ash can be thought for removal and inactivation of heavy metals and other toxic contaminants.
there is Harris–Benedict equations with its revised version by mifflin, i m confused which one to use ?
I would like to study camel meat industry in a region of southern Algeria, and I'm looking for advice and recommendations, and eventually guides (or article) to develop relevant questions for the various surveys of various stakeholders. I would be very grateful for your help