First investigation of trace metal distribution in surface seawater and copepods of the south coast of Sfax (Tunisia)

Seawater warming intensifies nickel toxicity to a marine copepod: a multigenerational perspective

Due to human activities, marine organisms are frequently co-stressed with nickel (Ni) pollution and seawater warming; nevertheless, very scarce information is known about their interaction in marine biota under a multigenerational scenario. Here, after verifying the interaction of Ni and warming via a 48-h acute test, we conducted a multigenerational experiment (F0-F2), in which the marine copepod Tigriopus japonicus was exposed to Ni at environmentally realistic concentrations (0, 2, and 20 µg/L) under ambient (22℃) and predicted seawater warming (26℃) conditions. Ni accumulation and the important life history traits were analyzed for each generation. Results showed that Ni exposure caused Ni bioaccumulation and thus compromised the survivorship and egg production of T. japonicus. In particular, seawater warming significantly increased Ni accumulation, thus intensifying the negative effects of Ni on its survivorship and development. Overall, this study suggests that Ni multigenerational exposure even at environmentally realistic concentrations could produce a significant impact on marine copepod's health, and this impact would be intensified under the projected seawater warming, providing a mechanistic understanding of the interaction between warming and Ni pollution in marine organisms from a multigenerational perspective.

Monitoring of Environmental Hg Occurrence in Tunisian Coastal Areas

Total mercury (Hg) was determined in 450 environmental samples (seawater, sediment plant and fish) from five Mahdia coastal areas (Tunisia). Tolerable Weekly Intake% (TWI) values, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), were calculated based on the average metal concentration in fish and the average weekly fish consumption rate. Hg was accumulated mainly in fish and in Posidonia oceanica leaves. Hg in sediment ranged from 1.88 μg/kg dry weight (d.w.) to 7.48 μg/kg d.w., while it was between 0.32 μg/kg and 0.19 μg/kg in seawaters. Our study showed high concentration in Posidonia oceanica in S3 (plant = 16.76 ± 4.48 μg/kg d.w.) as compared to those in S4 sites (plant = 5.33 ± 0.05 μg/kg d.w.). Concentrations for S. aurata and S. salpa in the Rejiche area exceeded the EC 1881/2006 legislation with values of 1.9 mg/kg and 2.5 mg/kg, respectively, and consumers may be exposed to high concentrations of Hg that exceeds the EFSA. The results showed that the fish species should be constantly monitored due to their TWI% of 154.5% for S. aurata and 209.8% S. salpa respectively.

High concentration of Phaeocystis globosa reduces the sensitivity of rotifer Brachionus plicatilis to cadmium: Based on an exponential approach fitting the changes in some key life-history traits

Most coastal waters are at risk of heavy metal pollution, and the biomass of primary producer phytoplankton always fluctuates, which usually causes zooplankton to be exposed in different concentrations of food and heavy metal. Phytoplankton abundance and heavy metal may interact on zooplankton. Therefore, to assess the definite interactive way, in this study we investigated the combined effects of different cadmium (Cd) levels and Phaeocystis globosa concentrations on some key life-history traits of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. Results showed that the Cd level and P. globosa concentration had a significant interaction on the key life-history parameters of the rotifer. Mid-level algal concentrations (5-36 × 10⁴ cells mL^-1) had an apparent effect on brood production and the number of rotifers producing offspring at high Cd level. The time to first reproduction exponentially decreased with increasing P. globosa concentrations under any Cd levels and then subsequently reached a constant value. With increasing P. globosa concentration, the total number of offspring exponentially increased and then reached the asymptotic value; the survival time under any Cd levels exponentially decreased with the increasing P. globosa concentration and subsequently tended to be a constant value. Without Cd, the low P. globosa concentration only decreased the reproduction of rotifers. However, the extreme low P. globosa concentration (1-3 × 10⁴ cells mL^-1) under higher Cd level (0.0354 mM) completely inhibited the reproduction and also shorten the survival time. Higher Cd level decreased the asymptotic total offspring per rotifer and survival time. High concentration of P. globosa can reduce the sensitivity of rotifer to heavy metal. However, the negative effects could not be eliminated completely by the increasing P. globosa concentration. The findings indicated that ecotoxicological studies on the toxicity of heavy metal need to consider the effects of food concentrations, which contributes to understanding the diverse tolerance of zooplankton to heavy metals.