Routine oxygen consumption of Tilapia sparrmanii (cichlidae) following acute exposure to atrazine

Toxic effect and physiological disruption of sodium phosphate to the quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis)

Phosphorous is an essential nutrient for all forms of life; however, the question of toxicity to aquatic species remains largely unanswered, despite many systems that exceed natural phosphorus loads. This study determined the ecotoxicological threshold concentration of phosphorus to the freshwater bivalve Dreissena bugensis using a 96-h bioassay. Sublethal, medial lethal, and lethal levels of sodium phosphate to D. bugensis were found to be 125, 260, and 476 ppm. Physiological biomarkers such as the oxygen consumption and filtration rate were estimated by exposing D. bugensis to five different sublethal concentrations (25, 50, 75, 100, and 125 ppm) of sodium phosphate for 96 h. Both oxygen consumption and filtration rate gradually declined with increasing exposure concentrations and durations, which was significant (α < 0.05) for 75, 100, and 125 ppm of sodium phosphate concentrations. Based on the feeding rate and oxygen consumption endpoints, the no-observed effect concentration and the low observed effect concentration were 25 and 75 ppm, respectively. Maximum acceptable toxicant concentration of sodium phosphate was 43.3 ppm. Measured environmental concentration (MEC) of total phosphorus (0.015 ppm; n = 6) was obtained from seasonal field assessments in Saginaw Bay during the years 2008 to 2010. An assessment factor of 1000 was used for calculating the predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) of 0.025 ppm. Risk quotient (RQ) of "0.6" was therefore established using MEC/PNEC (real risk) ratio. Binary ecological classification (RQ < 1) suggested that there is no appreciable risk of phosphorus to D. bungensis in the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron of Laurentian Great Lakes.

Biochemical and physiological effects of nickel in the euryhaline crab Neohelice granulata (Dana, 1851) acclimated to different salinities

The estuarine crab Neohelice granulata was maintained under control condition or exposed to sublethal concentrations of dissolved Ni (measured: 128 and 1010μg/L) for 96h at different salinities (2 and 30ppt). After metal exposure, whole-body oxygen consumption was measured and tissue (hemolymph, gills, hepatopancreas and muscle) samples were collected. Control crabs acclimated to 2ppt salinity showed lower hemolymph concentrations of Na⁺ (33%), Mg²⁺ (19%) and K⁺ (30%), as well as increased LPO levels in anterior gills (379%), posterior gills (457%) and hepatopancreas (35%) with respect to those acclimated to 30ppt salinity. In crabs acclimated to 2ppt salinity, Ni exposure increased whole-body oxygen consumption (75%), hemolymph K⁺ concentration (52%), hemolymph (135%) and hepatopancreas (62%) LDH activity. Also, it reduced hemolymph Cl^- concentration (16%) and muscle LDH activity (33%). In crabs acclimated to 30ppt salinity, Ni exposure increased LDH activity in hemolymph (195%), hepatopancreas (126%) and muscle (53%), as well as hemolymph osmolality (10%), Cl^- (26%) and Ca²⁺ (20%) concentration. It also reduced hepatopancreas lipid peroxidation (20%) and hemolymph Mg²⁺ (29%) and K⁺ (31%) concentration. These findings indicate that N. granulata is hyper-osmoregulating in 2ppt salinity and hypo-regulating in 30ppt salinity, showing adjustments of hemolymph ionic composition and metabolic rates, with consequent higher oxidative damage to lipids in low salinity (2ppt). Ni effects are associated with metabolic (aerobic and anaerobic) disturbances in crabs acclimated to 2ppt salinity, while osmotic and ionoregulatory disturbances were more evident in crabs acclimated to 30ppt salinity.