Publication details
Toxic effects of metals on two euryhaline ciliate species adapted to variable salinities
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Biologia |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/biolog.2015.70.issue-4/biolog-2015-0065/biolog-2015-0065.xml |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/biolog-2015-0065 |
| Field | Environment influence on health |
| Keywords | brackish waters; intermediate salinity; ciliate; toxicity assay; metals |
| Description | Brackish waters having salinity lower than seawater but higher than fresh water are of high importance for mankind. They serve as waterways, sources of sea food, sand or gravel, and play role in number of biogeochemical cycles including nutrients. However, human activities lead to serious pollution in these ecosystems affecting aquatic biota, migrating birds and others. The available aquatic ecotoxicity assays use either organisms from freshwaters or species from marine waters. Tools to assess the toxic effects of chemicals under the intermediate salinities are thus limited. The present study developed a 72-h growth inhibition assay in 48-well microplates using two euryhaline ciliates Paramecium dubosqui and Paramecium nephridiatum, each adapted to two different salinities: 0.5% and 5%. The toxicities of metals under variable salinity conditions differed ( HgCl2 > CuCl2 > K2Cr2O7), though only minor differences between species or salinities were observed. Although we were not able to confirm pronounced differences, the developed assay is one of a few suitable tools for toxicity testing under brackish conditions. The use of two species provides additional information on interspecies variability with respect to sensitivity to toxicants. |
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