Low exposure concentrations of atrazine increase male production in Daphnia pulicaria

Results of 24 bioassays with the water flea (Daphnia pulicaria) show an exposure-response relationship between Daphnia sex ratio and the herbicide atrazine. Exposure of Daphnia to atrazine during embryogenesis resulted in a shift in sex determination toward males. The shift was detectable at 0.5 ppb...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental toxicology and chemistry 1999-07, Vol.18 (7), p.1568-1573
Main Authors: Dodson, S.I, Merritt, C.M, Shannahan, J.P, Shults, C.M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Applied ecology
Atrazine
Biological and medical sciences
Daphnia
Daphnia pulicaria
dophnia pulicaria
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates
Exposure-response
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
males
Sex ratio
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Summary:Results of 24 bioassays with the water flea (Daphnia pulicaria) show an exposure-response relationship between Daphnia sex ratio and the herbicide atrazine. Exposure of Daphnia to atrazine during embryogenesis resulted in a shift in sex determination toward males. The shift was detectable at 0.5 ppb (nominal concentration) and pronounced at 10 ppb or more. The shift occurred in the upper part of the range of atrazine concentrations commonly found in aquatic environments (such as lakes, streams, wells, and rainwater). Our results suggest that Daphnia sex ratio is one to two orders of magnitude more sensitive to atrazine than are survivorship or fecundity.
ISSN:0730-7268
1552-8618
DOI:10.1002/etc.5620180732