Electroantennogram measurement of the olfactory response of Daphnia spp. and its impairment by waterborne copper

Copper Exposure Affects Anti-Predatory Behaviour and Acetylcholinesterase Levels in Culex pipiens (Diptera, Culicidae)

Copper is an essential metal that occurs chronically in the environment and affects the development and physiology of aquatic insects. In excess amounts, it can impair their nervous system and behaviour. We tested the anti-predatory behaviour of Cx. pipiens larvae after seven days exposure with several concentrations of copper up to 500 mg L^-1. We measured responses to non- consumptive (predation cues) and consumptive predation (dragonfly larvae) across two generations. We also tested the accumulated effect of copper on AChE enzyme activity. We exposed half of treated and control larvae to predation cues (water with predator odour and crushed conspecifics) and the other half to water without predation cues. We evaluated total distance moved and velocity. Copper reduced the distance moved and velocity, with stronger effects in the second generation. Copper had no significant effect on larvae eaten by dragonflies. Copper inhibited the AChE enzyme across both generations at 500 µg L^-1. Copper can affect the nervous system directly by inhibiting AChE activity, and possibly also by impairing the olfaction sensors of the larvae, resulting in larval inability to detect predation cues.

Sensory Ecology of Predator-Induced Phenotypic Plasticity

Ecological communities are organized in trophic levels that share manifold interactions forming complex food webs. Infochemicals can further modify these interactions, e.g., by inducing defenses in prey. The micro-crustacean Daphnia is able to respond to predator-specific chemical cues indicating an increased predation risk. Daphnia shows plastic responses by adapting its morphology, behavior, and physiology, increasing organism, and population fitness. This stabilizes community structures. This review will describe the progress that has been made in understanding the high degree of plasticity observed in the model crustacean Daphnia. I summarize current knowledge on the processes of predator detection, ranging from the nature of biologically active chemical cues to the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms. With this, I aim to provide a comprehensive overview on the molecular mechanisms of ad hoc environmental phenotypic adaptation. In times of climate change and pollution understanding information transfer in aquatic systems is valuable as it will allow us to predict whether and how community structures are being affected.

Effects of copper on olfactory, behavioral, and other sublethal responses of saltwater organisms: Are estimated chronic limits using the biotic ligand model protective?

There is concern over whether regulatory criteria for copper (Cu) are protective against chemosensory and behavioral impairment in aquatic organisms. We compiled Cu toxicity data for these and other sublethal endpoints in 35 tests with saltwater organisms and compared the Cu toxicity thresholds with biotic ligand model (BLM)-based estimated chronic limits (ECL values, which are 20% effect concentrations [EC20s] for the embryo-larval life stage of the blue mussel [Mytilus edulis], a saltwater species sensitive to Cu that has historically been used to derive saltwater Cu criteria). Only 8 of the 35 tests had sufficient toxicity and chemistry data to support unequivocal conclusions (i.e., a Cu EC20 or no-observed-effect concentration could be derived, and Cu and dissolved organic carbon [DOC] concentrations were measured [or DOC concentrations could be inferred from the test-water source]). The BLM-based ECL values would have been protective (i.e., the ECL was lower than the toxicity threshold) in 7 of those 8 tests. In the remaining 27 tests, this meta-analysis was limited by several factors, including 1) the Cu toxicity threshold was a "less than" value in 19 tests because only a lowest-observed-effect concentration could be calculated and 2) Cu and/or DOC concentrations often were not measured. In 2 of those 27 tests, the ECL would not have been protective if based only on a conservatively high upper-bound DOC estimate. To facilitate future evaluations of the protectiveness of aquatic life criteria for metals, we urge researchers to measure and report exposure-water chemistry and test-metal concentrations that bracket regulatory criteria. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1515-1522. © 2018 SETAC.

Protectiveness of Cu water quality criteria against impairment of behavior and chemo/mechanosensory responses: An update

A meta-analysis was conducted of studies that reported behavior and chemo/mechanosensory responses by fish, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates in Cu-containing waters and also reported sufficient water chemistry for calculation of hardness-based and biotic ligand model (BLM)-based water quality criteria (WQC) for Cu. The calculated WQC concentrations were then compared with the corresponding 20% impairment concentrations (IC20) of Cu for those behavior and chemo/mechanosensory responses. The hardness-based acute and chronic WQC for Cu would not have been protective (i.e., the IC20 would have been lower than the WQC) in 33.6 and 26.2%, respectively, of the 107 combined behavior- and chemo/mechanosensory-response cases that also had adequate water chemistry data for BLM-based WQC calculations (32.7% inconclusive). In comparison, the BLM-based acute and chronic WQC for Cu would not have been protective in only 10.3 and 4.7%, respectively, of the same 107 cases (29.9% inconclusive). To improve evaluations of regulatory effectiveness, researchers conducting aquatic Cu toxicity tests should measure and report complete BLM-input water chemistry and bracket the hardness-based and BLM-based WQC concentrations for Cu that would be applicable in their exposure waters. This meta-analysis demonstrates that, overall, the BLM-based WQC for Cu were considerably more protective than the hardness-based WQC for Cu against impairment of behavior and chemo/mechanosensory responses. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1260-1279. © 2018 SETAC.

Use of electro-olfactography to measure olfactory acuity in the North American bullfrog (Lithobates (Rana) catesbeiana) tadpole

Olfaction is an important sense for aquatic organisms because it provides information about their surroundings, including nearby food, mates, and predators. Electro-olfactography (EOG) is an electrophysiological technique that measures the response of olfactory tissue to olfactory stimuli, and responses are indicative of olfactory acuity. Previous studies have used this technique on a variety of species including frogs, salamanders, daphniids and, most extensively, fish. In the present study, we introduce a novel modified EOG method for use on Lithobates (Rana) catesbeiana tadpoles. Responses to a number of olfactory stimuli including amino acids, an algal extract (Spirulina), and taurocholic acid were tested, as measured by EOG. Tadpoles exhibited consistent and reliable responses to L-alanine and Spirulina extract. Tadpoles also exhibited concentration-dependent responses to Spirulina extract. These findings indicate that tadpole EOG is a viable electrophysiology technique that can be used in future research to study olfactory physiology and impairment in tadpoles.

Biofouling of leisure boats as a source of metal pollution

The release of harmful metals from antifouling paints to water bodies is a well-known problem. In this study, we measured both the amount of biofouling growth on leisure boats during one season as well as the concentration of metals accumulated by the biofouling matrix. Furthermore, the efficiency of antifouling paints and mechanical boat cleaning as well as the effect of hull colour on biofouling were evaluated. Unlike paint residues, biofouling waste has never been regarded as a source of metal contamination and has previously been neglected in the scientific literature. Our results revealed that the biofouling waste contained very high concentrations of metals, up to 28,000 mg copper/kg dw and 171,000 mg zinc/kg dw, which exceeds the guidance values for least sensitive land use in Sweden by factors of 140 and 340, respectively. This observation is important because the contaminated biofouling waste is commonly disposed of in boatyard soils at the end of each season, thus increasing the levels of metal pollution. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the amount of biofouling if the boats were coated with copper or zinc containing paints or no paint at all, indicating that biocide paints might not be necessary in low-salinity areas such as the Stockholm archipelago. For boats that were not painted at all during the season, those washed on boat washers (mechanically) had on average half of the amount of biofouling compared to boats that were not cleaned mechanically. The results of the study indicate the importance of proper management of biofouling waste as well as the use of more environmentally friendly removal methods for biofouling such as boat washers.

New electroantennography method on a marine shrimp in water

Antennular chemoreception in aquatic decapods is well studied via the recording of single chemoreceptor neuron activity in the antennule, but global responses of the antennule (or antennae in insects) by electroantennography (EAG) has so far been mainly restricted to aerial conditions. We present here a well-established underwater EAG method to record the global antennule activity in the marine shrimp Palaemon elegans in natural (aqueous) conditions. EAG responses to food extracts, recorded as net positive deviations of the baseline, are reproducible, dose-dependent and exhibit sensory adaptation. This new EAG method opens a large field of possibilities for studying in vivo antennular chemoreception in aquatic decapods, in a global approach to supplement current, more specific techniques.

Variation in copper effects on kairomone-mediated responses in Daphnia pulicaria

Chemical signals play an integral role in many predator-prey relationships but their effectiveness can be altered by environmental conditions. Prey species can detect predator kairomones, which induce anti-predator defenses. An example of this predator-prey relationship exists between Daphnia spp. and Chaoborus spp.; however, when living in water contaminated with low concentrations of copper (Cu) Daphnia can fail to respond to Chaoborus kairomone and, in turn, become more susceptible to predation. This has implications for Daphnia living in regions with Cu contamination, such as areas where mining activity has resulted in increased levels of metals in the surrounding lakes. We examined kairomone-mediated responses of multiple Daphnia pulicaria clones obtained from 8 lakes in Ontario, Canada, in the absence and presence of environmentally-relevant Cu concentrations. Life history traits and morphological anti-predator defenses were assessed using neonates collected from mothers that were exposed to kairomone and Cu treatments. We found that kairomone-mediated responses and Cu-tolerance varied among D. pulicaria clones. Clones exposed to kairomone, in the absence of Cu additions, had diverse responses, including larger neonates, delayed reproduction, or altered brood size relative to no-kairomone controls. These kairomone-induced responses act as antipredator defense strategies against Chaoborus by preventing predation or stabilizing population growth. When exposed to Cu, two clones were able to respond to kairomone, while four clones no longer induced a response to kairomone. This variation in non-lethal effects of Cu on aquatic organisms suggests that toxicity tests should incorporate multiple genotypes and include predator-prey interactions.