Is Cr(VI) toxicity to Daphnia magna modified by food availability or algal exudates? The hypothesis of a specific chromium/algae/exudates interaction

Differential Toxicity of Arsenic in Daphnia pulex Under Phosphorus and Food Limitation

The on-going anthropogenic degradation of freshwater habitats has drastically altered the environmental supply of both nutrients and common pollutants. Most organisms living in these altered habitats experience interactive effects of various stressors that can initiate adjustments at multiple levels impacting their fitness. Hence, studies measuring response to a single environmental parameter fail to capture the complexities of the status quo. We tested both the individual and the interactive effect of arsenic (As) exposure, food quantity, and dietary phosphorus (P)-supply on six life-history traits (Juvenile Growth Rate; Adult Growth Rate; Age and Size at Maturity, Lifespan, and Fecundity) as surrogates for organismal fitness in the keystone aquatic grazer Daphnia pulex. We also tested the effect of food quantity and P-supply on somatic As accumulation in Daphnia. Our results indicated an influence of P-supply on neonatal growth and an influence of As and food quantity on growth and maintenance later in life. Maturation was strongly influenced by all three variables, with no reproduction observed in the presence of two or more environmental stressors. We found a strong interaction between As and dietary P, with increased P-supply intensifing the toxicity effect of As. No such effects were seen between As and food quantity, indicating a differential role of quantity versus quality on As toxicity. We found a nominal effect of diet on somatic As accumulation. The results from the present study emphasize the importance of considering such interactions between co-occurring environmental stressors and the dietary status of organisms, to better predict and manage impacts and risks associated with common environmental toxicants in highly vulnerable ecosystems. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-13. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Combined effects of perchlorate and hexavalent chromium on the survival, growth and reproduction of Daphnia carinata

Perchlorate and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) are common cocontaminants in aquatic environments due to their high water solubility, stability, mobility, and some coapplications. However, few studies have investigated their combined toxicity to organisms. In this work, we studied the acute and chronic toxicities of perchlorate and Cr(VI), alone and in combination, with survival, growth, and reproduction as endpoints using Daphnia carinata as a model organism. For a single contaminant, Cr(VI) was found to be more toxic than perchlorate to D. carinata not only in terms of survival but also in terms of growth and reproduction. In regard to the combined pattern, the interactive effects on survival, growth, and reproduction were mainly additivity, antagonism, and synergism, respectively, suggesting that the interactive response of perchlorate and Cr(VI) is endpoint-specific. Due to significant synergism, over 21 days of observation, the inhibition of 0.1 mg/L perchlorate and 0.2 mg/L Cr(VI) on cumulative offspring per female in the first seven broods reached 63.9 ± 3.6%, suggesting that long-term exposure to perchlorate and Cr(VI) at environmentally relevant concentrations may affect D. carinata reproduction in the natural environment. Our results will be significant for understanding the complicated combined toxicity of perchlorate and Cr to aquatic organisms.

The combined effects of acute irradiation and food supply on survival and fertility in Daphnia magna

The results of recent studies have provided strong evidence for the combined effects of diet restriction and exposure to chemical on the survival and reproduction of aquatic organisms. However, the combined effects of diet restriction and exposure to ionizing radiation remain poorly understood. To establish whether parental irradiation and diet restriction can affect the survival and fertility of directly exposed crustaceans and their progeny, Daphnia magna were given 10, 100 and 1000 mGy of acute γ-rays either during chronic diet restriction or normal food supply. Acute exposure to 1000 mGy significantly compromised the viability of irradiated Daphnia and their first-generation progeny, but did not affect the second-generation progeny. Similarly acute exposure to 100 and 1000 mGy also significantly compromised the fertility of F₀ and F₁Daphnia and did not affect the F₂ generation. Low level of food supply compromised the viability of non-exposed and irradiated Daphnia, whereas their fertility was substantially affected by all diets. The dose-response for the effects of irradiation on viability and fertility of Daphnia received different food supply were practically similar, thus implying that the level of nutrition and acute exposure to ionizing radiation independently affect the life history traits in crustacean.

Is Aluminum Innocuous to Zooplankton at pH Below 6?

Aluminum (Al) use has increased greatly during the last two decades, yet little information is available on its toxic effects in relation to pH particularly on zooplankton. In this work, we determined the acute toxicity (LC₅₀) and life table responses for Moina micrura exposed to 0.008, 0.016 and 0.08 mg of Al L^-1 at pH of 5, 6 and 7. The age-specific survivorship and reproduction showed a steep decline (80% mortality by the second day) at pH 5, independent of Al level. Both gross and net reproductive rates were significantly lower at pH 6 compared to pH 7, regardless of Al concentration. At pH 7 the rate of population increase of M. micrura was not significantly influenced by the Al level, while at pH 6 it was significantly lower (p < 0.05), suggesting that M. micrura is sensitive to changes in Al under slightly acidic conditions.

Modulatory effect of the exudates released by the brown kelp Lessonia spicata on the toxicity of copper in early developmental stages of ecologically related organisms

Lessonia spicata is a key dominant species along the Pacific coast of South America, providing a habitat for many organisms. However, this role can be affected by abiotic stress, such as metals. To counteract the toxic effect, L. spicata, among other seaweeds, releases exudates that bind metals. In this study, tolerances to copper of organisms related to the kelp forest (spores of Ulva lactuca (Chlorophyceae) and L. spicata (Phaeophyceae) and Zoea I of Taliepus dentatus (Milne-Edwards, Crustacea)) were studied; then, exudates are assessed by their protective effect. Exudates increase the 48-h 50% effective concentration (EC50) of the germination of spores from 8 to 23 μg Cu L-1 for U. lactuca and from 119 to 213 μg Cu L-1 for L. spicata and the survival of the larvae Zoea I 48-h 50% of lethal concentration (LC50) from 144 to 249 μg Cu L-1. Results indicated that exudates had a protective effect. Each species is specifically sensitive to copper. Crab larvae Zoea I were able to support higher doses, and exposure before hatching increased their tolerance.

Changes of chemical chronic toxicity to Daphnia magna under different food regimes

In aquatic ecosystems several stressors may act together and affect the life traits of organisms. Pesticide runoffs are usually associated with high inputs of organic matter and depletion of oxygen in aquatic systems. This study aimed at combining anthropogenic stress (chemicals) and natural stress (food availability) and evaluates their joint effect to the life traits of Daphnia magna. The neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid and the heavy metal nickel chloride were used and a 21 d chronic test was carried out to obtain reproduction and growth data. The conceptual model Independent action, usually used for assessing response patterns in chemical mixtures, was used for data interpretation. Results showed an increase in the reproduction and growth pattern of D. magna as food levels increased. Both chemicals significantly impaired the reproduction as well as the somatic growth of the organism while the same happened with food concentrations lower than 3×10(5) cells/mL. It was also observed that food availability did not change the toxicity of imidacloprid and nickel chloride when food levels were higher than 3×10(5) cells/mL. When combined with low food levels, imidacloprid showed a slight increase in toxicity, showing that daphnids become more sensitive with reduced food availability, however in a non-significant way. However, toxicity of nickel appeared to be independent of the food level. Both chemicals induced mortality to the organisms exposed in the absence of food only at the end of the test.

Effects of dietary copper on life-history traits of a tropical freshwater cladoceran

Life-history parameters of Ceriodaphnia cornuta (Cladocera: Daphniidae) fed on Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (Chlorophyceae) exposed to different copper concentrations were investigated. C. cornuta individuals were reared in four treatments: (a) reconstituted water and non-contaminated algae (RW); (b) reconstituted water and copper-contaminated algae with either 1.28 × 10(-13) (10(-7)Cu) or (c) 1.93 × 10(-13) g Cu cell(-1) (10(-6)Cu); and (d) natural water from a local reservoir and non-contaminated algae (NW). Copper content in C. cornuta individuals increased as diet-borne exposure increased (RW < 10(-7)Cu < NW < 10(-6)Cu), except for NW individuals, which exhibited higher copper body burden than RW and 10(-7)Cu individuals, suggesting that some copper was available in the natural water. The results suggest that subacute levels of dietary copper stimulated C. cornuta's growth and reproduction, whereas organisms reared on reconstituted water showed nutritional deficiency. Depending on copper exposure concentration, either growth (lower Cu concentration) or reproduction (higher Cu concentration) was further stimulated, suggesting that an alteration of resource allocation is involved in diet-borne copper exposure. Because differences among treatments were only significantly different after day 12 of the experiment, our results reinforce that full life-cycle tests are more appropriate than the standard 7 day or three-brood chronic bioassays used to evaluate dietary copper effects at low, chronic copper inputs and that the use of standard test-organisms may not address site-specific situations for tropical environments.

Intracellular chromium localization and cell physiological response in the unicellular alga Micrasterias

Various contaminants like metals and heavy metals are constantly released into the environment by anthropogenic activities. The heavy metal chromium has a wide industrial use and exists in two stable oxidation states: trivalent and hexavalent. Chromium can cause harm to cell metabolism and development, when it is taken up by plants instead of necessary micronutrients such as for example iron. The uptake of Cr VI into plant cells has been reported to be an active process via carriers of essential anions, while the cation Cr III seems to be taken up inactively. Micrasterias denticulata, an unicellular green alga of the family Desmidiaceae is a well-studied cell biological model organism. Cr III and VI had inhibiting effects on its cell development, while cell division rates were only impaired by Cr VI. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed ultrastructural changes such as increased vacuolization, condensed cytoplasm and dark precipitations in the cell wall after 3 weeks of Cr VI treatment. Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) were applied to measure intracellular chromium distribution. Chromium was only detected after 3 weeks of 10 μM Cr VI treatment in electron dense precipitations found in bag-like structures along the inner side of the cell walls together with iron and elevated levels of oxygen, pointing toward an accumulation respectively extrusion of chromium in form of an iron-oxygen compound. Atomic emission spectroscopy (EMS) revealed that Micrasterias cells are able to accumulate considerable amounts of chromium and iron. During chromium treatment the Cr:Fe ratio shifted in favor of chromium, which implied that chromium may be taken up instead of iron. Significant and rapid increase of ROS production within the first 5 min of treatment confirms an active Cr VI uptake. SOD and CAT activity after Cr VI treatment did not show a response, while the glutathione pool determined by immuno-TEM decreased significantly in chromium treated cells, showing that glutathione is playing a major role in intracellular ROS and chromium detoxification.

Role of food and clay particles in toxicity of copper and diazinon using Daphnia magna

Toxicity changes in copper and diazinon were investigated in the presence of food, clay, and their mixture by using Daphnia magna. In sorption equilibrium experiments, copper was significantly attracted (>34% sorbed) to food, clay, and food-clay mixture due to their negative zeta potential, while diazinon was less sorbed (<11%). In the exposure test with food and clay particles, it was revealed that copper was remarkably reduced in the presence of clay particles indicating the change in bioavailability of copper by sorption to clay. This was considered as the primary mechanism for toxicity reduction whereas diazinon toxicity was food dependent in the analysis of toxicity using toxicity change index (TCI). It was also shown that certain foods could not only act as a sorbent to copper and diazinon, but also as a material of energy source to alleviate the toxic damage. Meanwhile, clay can be considered as a prominent sorbent to copper but not to diazinon and can inhibit the sorption interaction between foodstuffs and toxicants through the aggregation and sedimentation processes. Furthermore, clay particles, as shown in TCI analysis, may be a potentially risky material as a physiological stressor or a toxicant carrier in contaminated environments.

The effects of humic substances on copper toxicity to Ceriodaphnia silvestrii Daday (Crustacea, Cladocera)

A major question in the field of ecotoxicology is how DOM affects copper accumulation and toxicity in planktonic organisms; copper acute toxicity and bioaccumulation in Ceriodaphnia silvestrii were investigated in the presence and absence of humic substances (HS) under controlled laboratory conditions. Copper was determined as free Cu2+ ions in the media and total copper in the animals; metal ion buffers were used for ion selective electrode calibration, extending the lower detection limit to 10(-11) mol l(-1). Groups of 20 adult females of similar sizes were exposed (24 h) to a range of nominal copper concentrations. Based on total added copper, LC50 was 4.4 x 10(-8) mol l(-1) without HS, whereas with 20 mg l(-1) HS, it was 25 times higher (1.1 x 10(-6) mol l(-1)). Based on free Cu2+ ions LC50 was statistically similar either with (2.8 x 10(-8) mol l(-1)) or without HS (3.3 x 10(-8 )mol l(-1)). The present results showed that natural DOM reduced copper toxicity and that free Cu2+ ions correlates to the bioavailable fraction to zooplankton. Nevertheless, copper bioaccumulation by C. silvestrii was similar either in the presence or absence of humic substances, suggesting that C. silvestrii regulates its body copper content up to 3.0 x 10(-8) mol l(-1) free Cu2+ ions in the media. The organisms were not able to deal with higher free Cu2+ ions concentrations in the media.

The influence of algal densities on the toxicity of chromium for Ceriodaphnia dubia Richard (Cladocera, Crustacea)

Food availability may affect metal toxicity for aquatic organisms. In the present study, the influence of high, medium and low densities of the algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (10(6), 10(5) and 10(4) cells.mL-1, respectively) on the chronic toxicity of chromium to the cladoceran Ceriodaphnia dubia was investigated. C. dubia was exposed to a range of chromium concentration from 2.71 to 34.04 µg.L-1 and fed with algae at various densities. In another experiment, the green alga was exposed to chromium concentrations (94 to 774 µg.L-1) and supplied as food in different densities to zooplankton. The survival and reproduction of the cladoceran were measured in these toxicity tests. The IC50 for Cr to P. subcapitata and metal accumulated by algal cells were determined. The results of a bifactorial analysis (metal versus algal densities) showed that metal toxicity to zooplankton was dependent on algal densities. Significant toxic effects on the reproduction and survival of C. dubia were observed at 8.73, 18.22 and 34.04 µg.L-1 Cr when the test organisms were fed with 10(6) cells.mL-1 of P. subcapitata. Although the chlorophyta retain low chromium content, a decrease in the reproduction and survival of C. dubia occurred when they were fed with high algal density contaminated with 774 µg.L-1 Cr. It was concluded that high algal density have an appreciable influence on chromium toxicity to daphnids.

Toxicity of two pulsed metal exposures to Daphnia magna: relative effects of pulsed duration-concentration and influence of interpulse period

Aquatic organisms living in surface waters experience fluctuating contaminant exposures that vary in concentration, duration, and frequency. This study characterized the role of pulsed concentration, pulsed duration, and the interval between pulses on the toxicity of four metals (Cu, Zn, Se, and As) to Daphnia magna. During 21-d toxicity tests, neonatal D. magna were exposed to single or double pulses. Pulsed concentrations and durations ranged from 32 to 6000 microg/L and 8 to 96 h, respectively. Intervals between two pulses ranged from 24 to 288 h. Mortality, growth, and reproduction were characterized for exposures. For single-pulse exposures of Cu and As, metal concentration had a stronger effect on survival of D. magna than did pulsed duration: pulses with 2X concentration and 1Y duration resulted in more mortality than did pulses with 1X concentration and 2Y duration. In contrast, effects of pulsed duration were stronger than metal concentration for Zn. However, the effects of duration and concentration were similar for Se. The relative effects of pulsed concentration and duration found in the present study revealed that the common method using area under the curve (AUC = concentration x duration) may not always accurately estimate environmental risk from metals (e.g., for Cu, Zn, As). In addition, the occurrence of delayed mortality in the present study revealed that using continuous exposure bioassays might underestimate metal toxicity to aquatic biota. For double-pulse exposures, the toxicity of the second pulse was influenced by the first pulse for all four metals. This influence was dependent on the pulsed concentration and duration and the interval between pulses. Further, toxicity caused by the second pulse decreased as the time between the exposures increased. For all four metals, there existed an interval great enough that the toxicity of the two pulses was independent. This would result in less toxicity for multiple exposures than continuous exposures with the same total exposure duration. The interval time at which the effects of the two pulses were independent increased with increasing concentration. Growth and cumulative reproduction of D. magna over 21 d were not significantly affected by pulsed exposures examined in the present study, indicating recovery of the organisms.

Relationship between the energy status of Daphnia magna and its sensitivity to environmental stress

This work tested the hypothesis that animals with a high energy status are more successful in dealing with stress than animals with a low energy status. Daphnids (Daphnia magna) were reared for 2 weeks in four different concentrations of food. Survival was not affected by food supply, and growth and reproduction increased with increasing food ration. This increase correlated well with the energy status, as was measured by scope for growth on day 15. After 2 weeks, the daphnids in the four different food ration groups were exposed for another 2 weeks to a range of increased salinities or cadmium concentrations, while remaining in their respective food concentrations. In the salinity groups, survival, growth, or reproduction were not influenced at low salinities. Exposure to higher salinity significantly decreased survival and reproduction, but this decrease was more pronounced in the highest food concentrations. In the cadmium exposed daphnids, cadmium content increased with increasing exposure concentrations, but accumulation was independent of food rations. Cadmium exposure significantly decreased survival, growth, and reproduction and this decrease again was more pronounced with increasing food concentration. Thus, the high energy status of the daphnids from the high food concentrations at the start of the exposure did not provide an increased capacity to cope with additional stress. Instead, the sensitivity of the daphnids to stress increased with increasing food ration. This increased sensitivity is likely to be the result of a change in life history from emphasizing survival at low food supply to stressing reproduction at high food supply.

Use of a mathematical model in the analysis of survival curves of Daphnia magna exposed to toxicants

Chronic toxicity tests carried out on species of the genus Daphnia (Crustacea: Cladocera) are bioassays commonly used in ecotoxicology. Mortality in the cohorts exposed to toxicants can be examined by the analysis of survival curves. The shape of these curves may be very different because of inter-individual heterogeneity: the less rectangular is the shape the more different is the probability of dying of daphnids in the cohort. Aim of this paper is to analyze the characteristics-in particular the shape-of survival curves of cohorts of Daphnia magna exposed to heavy metals in chronic toxicity tests. Experimental curves were fitted by a mathematical model recently proposed, which puts emphasis just on this heterogeneity, described by the parameter of the model S(0). The information contained in S(0) is very useful for the present purposes: the higher the value of S(0) the less rectangular the shape of the curve and, as a consequence, the higher the age-at-death heterogeneity of the cohort is thought to be. The model contains a second parameter, omega, representing the maximum potential ability of the individuals to survive in a specific environment and is related with the maximal life span. The model fitted well the survival curves in most cases and both S(0) and omega showed statistically different values between treatments, useful for comparisons. It was concluded that S(0) provides a quantitative estimation of curve "rectangularization", useful to check different sensitivities to a specific toxicant concentration among daphnids belonging to the same cohort, while omega provides an estimate of maximal life span.