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At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

Specific toxic effect of dinoflagellate Heterocapsa circularisquama on the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis.

Heterocapsa circularisquama (Dinophyceae), a noxious red tide dinoflagellate, is known to have a specifically lethal effect on shellfish, especially bivalves such as pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata), but no detrimental effects of this alga on fishes have not been observed so far. In this study, we found that H. circularisquama was toxic to a microzooplankton, a rotifer (Brachionus plicatilis) in a cell concentration-dependent manner, while the cultured supernatant or ultrasonic ruptured H. circularisquama had no significant toxic effect on the rotifer. Since no such toxic effects on the rotifer were observed in Chattonella marina, Heterosigma akashiwo, or Cochlodinium polykrikoides, other species of harmful red tide plankton, H. circularisquama may have a strictly specific toxic mechanism against the rotifer as well as bivalves.

Animals↗

Variation of density, species composition and dominance of rotifers at a shallow tropical reservoir (Broa reservoir, SP, Brazil) in a short scale time.

Rotifers are the predominant group of zooplankton found in the majority of reservoirs, constituting more than 60% of the total zooplankton present. Being opportunistic organisms, they easily adapt to changes in environmental conditions, and it is therefore difficult to establish a constant level of composition and occurrence of a species in specific areas at specific times. In order to establish how changes in composition and predominance of a species occurs within a dynamic system, the daily variation in the total density of rotifers and that of the dominant species were studied at short intervals during a period of 20 days at Lobo (Broa) reservoir. Filinia pejleri and Keratella americana were the predominant species, making up 64.3% of the total rotifers. However, during the first five days of the study, there was a predominance of two genera, Conochilus (C. coenobasis and C. unicornis) and Keratella (K. americana and K. cochlearis), with the genus Conochilus being substituted by the genus Filinia from the seventh day onwards, which, together with the genus Keratella, was predominant until the end of the study period. The increase in density of Filinia pejleri and Keratella americana was found to be associated with increased wind speed. The resulting turbulence could cause changes in the behavior and metabolism of the organisms, increasing the rate of reproduction, which in turn could be attributed to the greater availability of food through the suspension of material from the lake bed.

Animals↗

Proteocephalidean larvae (Cestoda) in naturally infected cyclopid copepods of the upper Paran River floodplain, Brazil.

The occurrence, prevalence and infection intensity of proteocephalidean larvae in naturally infected intermediate hosts of the Upper Paran River floodplain are reported. A total of 5,206 zooplanktonic and benthic organisms were analyzed, namely cyclopid (2,621) and calanoid (1,479) copepods, cladocerans (704), rotifers (307), chironomid larvae (41) and ostracods (54). Eight cyclopid copepods - two copepodids, one male and five females - comprising 0.3% of the cyclopid copepods examined, were naturally infected. The male infected belonged to a species of Paracyclops, and the females to Paracyclops sp., Thermocyclops minutus and Mesocyclops longisetus.

Animals↗

Effect of dietary (n-3) highly unsaturated fatty acids on growth and survival of fat snook (Centropomus parallelus, Pisces: Centropomidae) larvae during first feeding.

The effect of rotifers, Brachionus rotundiformis (S-type), fed three different diets: A (rotifer fed Nannochloropsis oculata), B (rotifer fed N. oculata and baker's yeast, 1:1), and C (rotifer fed N. oculata and baker's yeast, 1:1, and enriched with Selcoregister mark or target), was evaluated based on the survival, growth and swim bladder inflation rate of fat snook larvae. Rotifers of treatment A had higher levels (4.58 mg/g dry weight) of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) than B (1.81 mg/g dry weight), and similar levels (0.04 and 0.06 mg/g dry weight, respectively) of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Rotifers of treatment C had the highest levels of EPA (13.2 mg/g dry weight) and DHA (6.08 mg/g dry weight). Fat snook eggs were obtained by spawning induction with human chorionic gonadotropin. Thirty hours after hatching, 30 larvae/liter were stocked in black cylindric-conical tanks (36-liter capacity). After 14 days of culture, there were no significant differences among treatments. Mean standard length was 3.13 mm for treatment A, 3.17 mm for B, and 3.39 mm for C. Mean survival rates were very low (2.7% for treatment A, 2.3% for B, and 1.8% for C). Swim bladder inflation rates were 34.7% for treatment A, 27.1% for B, and 11.9% for C. The lack of differences in growth and survival among treatments showed that the improvement of the dietary value of rotifer may not have been sufficient to solve the problem of larval rearing. Some other factor, probably pertaining to the quality of the larvae, may have negatively influenced survival.

Animal Feed↗

Longitudinal processes in Salto Grande Reservoir (Americana, SP, Brazil) and its influence in the formation of compartment system.

Studies on the longitudinal processes in reservoirs, involving physical, chemical and biological processes have been thoroughly appraised, suggesting the existence of a longitudinal organization controlled by the entrance and circulation of water which inserts modifications in the structuring of the system. To evaluate this effect, the Salto Grande reservoir (Americana, SP) was analyzed in 11 sampling stations in its longitudinal axis, in the rainy and dry seasons of 1997 considering the physical chemical and biological variables. Analyzing the results in agreement with the declining concentration degree of the river-barrage direction, a more significant correlation was verified in the dry period for total phosphorus (r2 = 0.86), dissolved total phosphate (r2 = 0.83), nitrite (r2 = 0.93), inorganic phosphate (r2 = 0.89), ammonium (r2 = 0.84) and suspended material (r2 = 0.85). In the rainy period, only nitrite (r2 = 0.90) and conductivity (r2 = 0.89) presented correlation with the distance of the dam, which demonstrates the effects of precipitation and the operational mechanism of the dam, as well as the distinction among the physical (sedimentation), chemical (oxidation) and biological (decomposition) processes in spatial heterogeneity of the system. These factors were decisive in the organization of these communities, with higher occurrence of rotifers and copepods in relation to cladocerans, the first ones being more abundant in the entrance of the Atibaia river, decreasing towards the dam direction, while copepods presented an inverse pattern. A distribution pattern similar to Copepoda was also verified for the Cladocera, evidencing a tendency to increase the density of organisms in the stations distant to the entrance of the Atibaia river, not being registered, however, a distribution gradient in the longitudinal axis, as observed for rotifers and copepods. In relation to the trophic degree a longitudinal gradient was also verified from eutrophic to oligotrophic depending on the location of the sampling station in relation to the longitudinal axis and period of analysis. The differences obtained, relating to the distribution of the environmental variables, demonstrate a characteristic pattern for reservoirs, with a longitudinal gradient in the sense river-barrage that inserts changes in the physical and chemical composition of the water, contributing to the differentiated establishing of biological communities.

Animals↗

Rotifer production in a shallow artificial lake (Lobo-Broa Reservoir, SP, Brazil).

Rotifer production in a shallow artificial lake (Lobo-Broa Reservoir) was studied for twenty consecutive days between August 25, 1995 and September 13, 1995, during the dry season. Two species were dominant, during this period namely Filinia pejleri and Keratella americana, contributing, respectively, 36% and 28% to total rotifer numbers. Production estimates of these species were, respectively, 41.93 and 80.70 micrograms dry weight.m-3.d-1, corresponding to 18.45 and 35.51 micrograms Cm-3.d-1. The population of F. pejleri was numerically more abundant than that of K. americana, while the production of the former was less, as a result of lower egg to female ratios.

Animals↗

Rotifers of the upper Paraná River floodplain: additions to the checklist.

Rotifers present a high diversity in freshwater ecosystems. This study registered 11 genera and 42 species, new records for the Upper Paraná River floodplain. These results showed an increase in rotifer diversity in this ecosystem from 184 to 230 species. Among them some were registered only in the rivers and others in the lagoons. Thirty-seven species occurred in the littoral zone and 34 species in the pelagic; 3 species were registered only in the former zone and 2 species only in the latter. The lagoons presented the greatest richness, probably because of the greater stability, low current velocity, and the extensive aquatic macrophyte banks in the littoral zone of these environments as compared to those of the rivers. The highest number of species in the littoral habitats occurred due to the greater influence of shoreline vegetation, which allows greater habitat diversification. This fact contributed to the occurrence of non-planktonic species in the zooplankton samples.

Animals↗

Rotifers ingest Giardia cysts.

Seven species of rotifers representing 6 genera, Epiphanes, Plationus, Asplanchna, Philodina species A, Philodina species B. Platyias, and Brachionus, were exposed to Giardia cysts isolated from the feces of experimentally infected holstein calves. Giardia cysts were prestained with a fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated monoclonal antibody and mixed with viable rotifers on 3-well Teflon-coated microscope slides. Organisms were observed with phase-contrast, differential interference contrast, and fluorescence microscopy. Five rotifer species, Epiphanes brachionus, Plationus patulus, Philodina (both A and B), and Platyias quadricornis, ingested varying numbers of cysts, which were retained within the rotifers' bodies throughout the observation period. Rotifer ingestion of Giardia cysts may represent a means of reducing water contamination.

Animals↗

Phylogenetic relationships of Palaeacanthocephala (Acanthocephala) inferred from SSU and LSU rDNA gene sequences.

The Palaeacanthocephala is traditionally represented by 2 orders, Echinorhynchida and Polymorphida, with 10 and 3 families, respectively. To test the monophyly of the class, these 2 orders, and certain families, phylogenies were inferred using nuclear small-subunit (SSU) and large-subunit (LSU) ribosomal DNA sequences obtained for 29 species representing 10 families, 2 other classes of acanthocephalans, and 3 rotifer outgroups. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred by analyzing combined SSU and LSU sequences using maximum parsimony (MP) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods. Parsimony and ML trees inferred from combined analysis of these rDNA data strongly supported monophyly of Palaeacanthocephala and provided good resolution among species. Neither Polymorphida nor Echinorhynchida was monophyletic. Gorgorhynchoides bullocki (Echinorhynchida) was nested within the 6 species representing Polymorphida, and this clade was nested within species representing Echinorhynchida. Three of 4 palaeacanthocephalan families that could be evaluated were not monophyletic, and this finding was strongly supported. These results indicate that the family level classification of palaeacanthocephalans, which is mainly based on combinations of shared characters (not shared derived characters), needs to be reevaluated with respect to comprehensively sampled phylogenetic hypotheses.

Acanthocephala↗

Phospholipase A2 activity in three species of littoral freshwater rotifers exposed to several toxicants.

We analyzed three species of Lecane, a littoral rotifer, for susceptibility to six metals and four organic toxicants using a fluorometric assay based on inhibition of activity of the enzyme phospholipase A2. The metallic toxicants that we tested included Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg (as HgCl2), and Ti; the organic toxicants included benzene, ethyl acetate, toluene, and vinyl acetate. The three species differed greatly with respect to their susceptibility to the various toxicants. Lecane quadridentata, for example, was particularly sensitive to the four organic compounds (median effective concentration values [EC50] ranged from 6.6 x 10(-4)-0.987 mg/L). Lecane luna, in contrast, seemed particularly sensitive to metals (EC50 values ranged from 2 x 10(-6)-1.92 mg/L). Lecane hamata was relatively insensitive to organic solvents (EC50 values ranged from 4.25-126.5 mg/L).

Animals↗

Chronic toxicity of lead to three freshwater invertebrates--Brachionus calyciflorus, Chironomus tentans, and Lymnaea stagnalis.

Chronic lead (Pb) toxicity tests with Brachionus calyciflorus, Chironomus tentans, and Lymnaea stagnalis were performed in artificial freshwaters. The no-observable-effect concentration (NOEC), lowest-observable-effect concentration (LOEC), and calculated 20% effect concentration (EC20) for the rotifer B. calyciflorus were 194, 284, and 125 microg dissolved Pb/L, respectively. The midge C. tentans was less sensitive, with NOEC and LOEC of 109 and 497 microg dissolved Pb/L, respectively, and the snail L. stagnalis exhibited extreme sensitivity, evident by NOEC, LOEC, and EC20 of 12, 16, and < 4 microg dissolved Pb/L, respectively. Our findings are presented in the context of other reports on chronic Pb toxicity in freshwater organisms. The L. stagnalis results are in agreement with a previous report on pulmonate snails and should be viewed in the context of current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) hardness adjusted water quality criteria of 8 microg Pb/L. The present findings and earlier reports indicate that freshwater pulmonate snails may not be protected by current regulatory standards. Measurements of whole-snail Na+ and Ca2+ concentrations following chronic Pb exposure revealed that Na+ homeostasis is disturbed by Pb exposure in juvenile snails in a complicated pattern, suggesting two physiological modes of action depending on the Pb exposure concentration. Substantially reduced growth in the snails that exhibit very high Ca2+ requirements may be related to reduced Ca2+ uptake and thereby reduced shell formation.

Animals↗

Sensitivity of aquatic invertebrate resting eggs to SeaKleen (Menadione): a test of potential ballast tank treatment options.

The introduction of aquatic species in resting life stages by the release of ballast water is a less well-known but potentially important invasive species vector. Best-management practices designed to minimize transport of ballast water cannot eliminate this threat, because residual water and sediment are retained in ballast tanks after draining. To evaluate the potential efficacy of chemical treatment of residual material in ship ballast tanks, the present study examined the acute toxicity of the proposed biocide SeaKleen (menadione; Garnett, Watkinsville, GA, USA) on resting eggs of Brachionus plicatilis (a marine rotifer), a freshwater copepod, Daphnia mendotae (a freshwater cladoceran), and Artemia sp. (a marine brine shrimp). SeaKleen was toxic to resting eggs of all taxa. Daphnia mendotae resting eggs encased in protective ephippia were the least sensitive, as indicated by a 24-h lethal concentration of toxicant to 90% of organisms of 8.7 mg/L (95% confidence interval, +/- 0.1 mg/L). SeaKleen induced teratogenic effects in D. mendotae and Artemia sp. Exposure to sunlight quickly degraded SeaKleen, which lost all toxicity after 72 h outdoors. SeaKleen increased in toxicity slightly after 72 h in darkness. Burial of D. mendotae ephippia in natural lake sediment reduced SeaKleen toxicity by a factor of 20. Reduced toxicity in the presence of sediment raises serious doubts as to the potential for this, or any, chemical biocide to kill aquatic invertebrate resting stages buried in sediment retained in ship ballast tanks.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

A materially-closed aquatic-ecosystem: a useful tool for determining changes of ecological processes in space.

A materially-closed aquatic ecosystem (microcosm) was developed. The microcosm contained two families of green algae and blue-green alga as primary producers, protozoa, two species of rotifers and oligochaetes as consumers, and bacteria as decomposers. The microcosm could be readily replicated. It was confirmed the population densities of each organism were almost constant for 365 days without artificial operation except temperature and light. The population dynamics and the spatial patterns of the organisms were simulated by mathematical models. This hermetically-sealed microcosm could be a useful subject to investigate ecology under space environment.

Animals↗

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) detected by PCR in rotifers and rotifer resting eggs from shrimp pond sediments.

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was detected by PCR-dot blot hybridization in rotifer resting eggs from shrimp Penaeus chinensis culture-pond sediments. It was also detected in rotifers hatched from those eggs. Surface disinfection before analysis indicated that WSSV was probably present within the resting eggs. Results suggested that rotifer resting eggs may be an overwintering reservoir for WSSV in shrimp ponds.

Animals↗

Production of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis (Ploimida: Brachionidae) in a Brazilian coastal lagoon.

Secondary production, density and biomass fluctuations, and some reproductive aspects of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis were studied weekly for two years in a Brazilian coastal lagoon. Food (and secondarily temperature) seemed to be the main factor involved in the summer increments. In the first summer, a mass mortality of fish caused changes in the phytoplankton, which switched from the dominance of Cyanophyceae to Chlorophyceae and other groups. For two months, production, density and biomass were relatively high until the recovery of the Cyanophyceae dominance. In the second summer, peaks of shorter duration and higher values of production, in comparison to the first one, were found. The contribution of resting eggs hatching, in the first summer, and the increment in parthenogenetic reproduction, in the second summer, would account for the population increases observed. Males and mictic females occurred when densities were high.

Animals↗

Toxicity evaluation of natural and synthetic phenanthrenes in aquatic systems.

Seven natural 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenes were isolated from the common reed Juncus effusus by means of chromatographic processes and identified by spectroscopic means. Furthermore, mimics of natural isolated compounds were synthesized to try to evaluate the influence of functional groups on the dihydrophenanthrene skeleton. Syntheses of compounds were based on the cross-coupling of 1-(2-iodo-5-methoxy)phenyl-ethanol with variously substituted iodobenzenes by zerovalent nickel. All the chemicals were tested to evaluate their effects on freshwater organisms from different trophic levels. Toxicity tests were performed on reducers (the bacterium Escherichia coli); producers (the alga Raphidocelis subcapitata, previously known as Selenastrum capricornutum); and consumers including a rotifer (Brachionus calyciflorus), a cladoceran (Daphnia pulex), and an anostracan (Thamnocephalus platyurus). Results suggested no one organism was uniquely sensitive to the chemicals tested. Toxicity depended on the kind and position of substituents on the aromatic skeleton.

Animals↗

An ecological life support system for fish for 100-day experiments.

An aquatic habitat of 1.7 L was designed to support three adult fish (medaka, Oryzias latipes) for 100 days with minimal exchange of water. The Aquatic Habitat consisted of a specimen chamber (800 ml), biofilter chamber and associated tubing (250 ml), and a microbial control chamber (650 ml), filled with water. Fish were fed daily. The water was oxygenated via a hollow fiber oxygenator. The liquid flow rate was 30 ml/min and the air flow as 100 ml/min. Six units were established. Fish mortalities, when they occurred, were often associated with failures of the water flow system and lack of oxygen being supplied from the oxygenator. The bacterial community, from three "Bio-Chem Stars" inoculated from a medaka aquarium, transformed ammonia and prevented toxic conditions from occurring. The bacteria were grazed by protozoa, rotifers, nematodes, oligochaetes, and ostracods in all habitats. In three of six habitats, Daphnia and amphipods had been purposely introduced; their survival was variable. Biofilm and settled particulates accumulated during the experiment and eventually exceeded the weight of the fish. Of six units, two supported the initial fish through the whole experiment, another experienced fish mortalities, but replacement fish survived, and three units did not support fish survival for the 100 days. Our results demonstrated the feasibility of the system, but many improvements are needed such as improved water flow and oxygen monitoring to assure prompt corrective action.

Ammonia↗