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MEPS 230:183-194 (2002)
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Abstract
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Determining the ecotoxicological mode of action of toxic chemicals in meiobenthic marine organisms: stage-specific short tests with Tisbe battagliai
Carlos Barata1,2,*, Donald J. Baird1, Matias Medina1, Amaya Albalat1, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares2
1Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK
2Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
*Present address: Department of Environmental Chemistry, IIQAB-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18, Barcelona 08034, Spain. E-mail: cbmqam@cid.es
ABSTRACT: A short-term Tisbe battagliai toxicity test design was used to assess the potential ecological effects of pollutants in coastal marine communities. By exposing nauplii and reproductive females over 4 and 6 d, respectively, to 3 toxic
substances (fluoranthene, cypermethin and deltamethrin), the bioassay was seen to successfully measure survival effects on egg, nauplii and adults and sublethal effects on food acquisition and clutch size. Predictive consequences of toxic exposure at
population level was estimated in terms of reproductive success, by integrating effects on adult survival and reproductive performance over the studied exposure period. Fluoranthene exposure reduced feeding rate and clutch size at concentrations below
those affecting survival and population responses. For cypermethrin, survival, sublethal and reproductive success concentration effects were of a similar magnitude. For deltamethrin adult and nauplii survival, clutch size and reproductive success were
equally affected at concentrations which were lower than those affecting feeding and egg survival. Responses to contaminated algae showed a different pattern, with toxicant effects only on nauplii survival and reproductive success, and under exposure to
pyrethroid insecticides. Thus, differences in the dominant ecotoxicological modes of action, in terms of the balance between survival and sublethal responses with potential effects at the population level, could be successfully assessed using this
short-term bioassay. These results have important implications for risk assessment in estuarine and coastal waters because with relatively short-term, and thus cost-effective tests, the functional relationship between effects on survival, feeding and
reproduction rates and concentration can be determined.
KEY WORDS: Life-history effects · Fluoranthene · Cypermethrin · Deltamethrin · Sublethal tests
Full text in pdf format
Published in MEPS Vol.
230
(2002) on April 5
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2002
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