Foraging, feeding, and reproduction on silica substrate: Increased waterborne zinc toxicity to the estuarine epibenthic amphipod Melita plumulosa
- Publication Type:
- Journal Article
- Citation:
- Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2011, 30 (7), pp. 1649 - 1658
- Issue Date:
- 2011-07-01
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Artificial substrates consisting of fine milled silica with or without α-cellulose were evaluated for their capacity to support survival, growth, and fecundity in the amphipod Melita plumulosa. There were no significant differences in the survival and fecundity of adult amphipods maintained for up to 13 d on natural sediment, silica-only, or silica/α-cellulose substrate when fed two algal foods, Sera® micron and Rotiselco®-ALG. However, growth among juveniles maintained on the silica/α-cellulose mixture was significantly inhibited over 14 d compared with natural sediment. Addition of a microencapsulated shrimp feed, Frippak®, to the algal foods improved juvenile growth over 28 d but still did not match the nutritive value of natural sediment. Fine silica without cellulose was subsequently used in acute and reproductive toxicity tests with waterborne zinc. With food, a 10-d median lethal concentration (LC50) of 140μg Zn/L and a 10-d no-effect concentration (NEC) of 80μg Zn/L were obtained for juvenile survival on silica. In contrast, a 10-d LC50 of 200μg Zn/L and a 10-d NEC of 180μg Zn/L were obtained for juveniles in water-only exposures. Similarly, exposure of adult females to Zn without food on silica compared with water-only exposures gave 10-d LC50s of 380 and 490μg Zn/L and 10-d NECs of 130 and 370μg Zn/L, respectively. The reproduction toxicity test indicated significant adult mortality at 92μg Zn/L and significantly reduced fecundity at 22μg Zn/L. We surmised that the toxicity of waterborne zinc to M. plumulosa increased when maintained on nutrient-depleted silica compared with water-only exposure because of increased energy expended through foraging, in concert with the likely increased exposure to Zn via the digestive tract and the gills. © 2011 SETAC.
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