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Microcrustaceans escape behavior as an early bioindicator of copper, chromium and endosulfan toxicity

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Abstract

The purpose of this work was to experimentally analyze the impact of copper, chromium and a commercial pesticide with endosulfan on the escape behavior of two copepods (Notodiaptomus conifer, Argyrodiaptomus falcifer) and three cladocerans (Daphnia magna, Pseudosida variabilis and Ceriodaphnia dubia). The experimental assays were carried out using a novel hydraulic devise designed to mimic three-speed predator capture behavior. Two concentrations, one “high” and one “low”, were employed and the exposure time was 15 (±5) minutes. With two exceptions, the species exposed to heavy metals manifested higher ability to escape than controls. Both concentrations of the pesticide reduced the escape ability of cladocerans but copepods responded, in general, in a similar manner as for heavy metals. The immediate apparent advantage of low and early toxic effects is discussed and the high sensitivity of the escape behavior suggests that it could be a complementary endpoint to be used in future ecotoxicological tests.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and important contributions. We are also grateful to Leonardo Paggi and Oscar Mendoza for their technical assistance. This research was supported with grants from the Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina (Project CAI+D 2009 No. PI 69-351).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Nacional de Limnología (CONICET-UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina

    María Florencia Gutierrez & Juan César Paggi

  2. Laboratorio de Ecotoxicología, Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias (UNL), Ciudad Universitaria, 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina

    Ana María Gagneten

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  1. María Florencia Gutierrez
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  2. Juan César Paggi
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  3. Ana María Gagneten
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Correspondence to María Florencia Gutierrez.

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Gutierrez, M.F., Paggi, J.C. & Gagneten, A.M. Microcrustaceans escape behavior as an early bioindicator of copper, chromium and endosulfan toxicity. Ecotoxicology 21, 428–438 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-011-0803-1

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