Copper and Chromium Alter Life Cycle Variables and the Equiproportional Development of the Freshwater Copepod Notodiaptomus conifer (SARS)

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution air, and soil pollution, 2010-11, Vol.213 (1-4), p.275-286
• Main Authors: Gutierrez, María Florencia, Gagneten, Ana M., Paggi, Juan C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bioassays; Bioindicators; Biological and medical sciences; Chromium; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Copepoda; Copper; Developmental stages; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Environment; Environmental monitoring; Fecundity; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth models; Health aspects; Heavy metal content; Heavy metals; Hydrogeology; Indicator organisms; Indicator species; Life cycles; Metal concentrations; Metals; Notodiaptomus; SARS coronavirus; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Soil Science & Conservation; Steel production; Studies; Toxicity; Variables; Water pollution; Water Quality/Water Pollution
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-010-0383-3

Recent studies have shown that the lower basin of the Salado River is highly polluted with copper and chromium. In order to evaluate the effect of those metals on Notodiaptomus conifer , a representative calanoid copepod, we carried out two (acute and chronic) experimental assays. In the first one, the 24- and 48-h EC 50 values were determined in nauplii and adults. Chronic assays were conducted to evaluate the time of development for nauplii, time of development for each copepodite stage, total development time, growth, number of ovigerous females, fecundity, and time required to produce the first egg sac. Additionally, the effect of those metals on the equiproportional model proposed for copepods was evaluated. Acute experiments reveled that juveniles were more sensible than adults. Although growth was not seriously affected by metal exposition, development time was delayed and reproductive variables were altered with the increase of metal concentrations. The deviation from the equiproportional model proposed for copepods proved to be a useful parameter to provide relevant information on toxicity of both metals along development time. In comparison with other zooplanktonic species, the highest sensitivity of N. conifer to copper and chromium makes it a suitable bioindicator in ecotoxicological tests.