title: Pharmaceuticals May Disrupt Natural Chemical Information Flows and Species Interactions in Aquatic Systems: Ideas and Perspectives on a Hidden Global Change.
abstract: Pharmaceuticals consumption by humans and animals is increasing substantially, leading to unprecedented levels of these compounds in aquatic environments worldwide. Recent findings that concentrations reach levels that can directly have negative effects on organisms are important per se, but also sound an alarm for other potentially more pervasive effects that arise from the interconnected nature of ecological communities. Aquatic organisms use chemical cues to navigate numerous challenges, including the location of mates and food, and the avoidance of natural enemies. Low concentrations of pharmaceuticals can disrupt this "smellscape" of information leading to maladaptive responses. Furthermore, direct effects of pharmaceuticals on the traits and abundance of one species can cascade through a community, indirectly affecting other species. We review mechanisms by which pharmaceuticals in surface waters can disrupt natural chemical information flows and species interactions. Pharmaceuticals form a new class of chemical threats, which could have far-reaching implications for ecosystem functioning and conservation management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, Netherlands. e.vandonk@nioo.knaw.nl.|Department of Ecology and Biodiversity, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands. e.vandonk@nioo.knaw.nl.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Donk
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, Netherlands.|Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peacor
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, Netherlands.|German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grosser
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, Netherlands.|Aquatic Ecology & Water Quality Management Group, Dept. Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Lisette N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: De Senerpont Domis
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, Netherlands.|Aquatic Ecology & Water Quality Management Group, Dept. Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Miquel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lürling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D017753:Ecosystem; D055696:Olfactory Perception / Q000187:drug effects*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D010675:Pheromones / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D010675:Pheromones; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical