Use of feeding rate and re-pairing of precopulatory Gammarus pulex to assess toxicity of gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane)

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 1995-04, Vol.30 (8), p.1573-1583
• Main Authors: MALBOUISSON, J. F. C, YOUNG, T. W. K, BARK, A. W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gammarus pulex
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/0045-6535(95)00041-6

The toxicity of lindane was assessed through its effects on the feeding rate of Gammarus pulex and the re-pairing of males and females physically separated from the pre-copulatory position. The separated animals were exposed at 15C either to 0.5-2.0 mg lindane per litre for 2-20 minutes or for 48 h to 0.5-5.0 ug per litre. They were fed on alder leaves previously conditioned by Cladosporium sp. Results were interpreted by non-parametric statistical tests. Feeding rates were significantly reduced during 48 h exposure to 5 ug lindane per litre but the majority of couples re-paired after the feeding period. No disruptive effect was seen on unseparated pairs exposed to low concentrations. Feeding rates were also depressed in the 24 h following brief exposure to high concentrations of lindane. Re-pairing was disrupted at treatments combining higher levels and longer exposures. The median survival times of briefly exposed animals varied with concentration and exposure time but was only significantly lower for 20 minute exposure to 2 mg lindane per litre. There are 30 references.