|
(M/MF207) Multi-species systems with selected freshwater invertebrates to assess potential reproductive effects of aquatic pollutants covering endocrine disruption. Sanchez, P.1, Vega, M.M.1, Garcia, P.1, Tarazona, J.V.1, 1 ABSTRACT- Freshwater invertebrates cover a wide range of taxonomic groups with specific ecological roles that make them appropriate organisms for testing pesticides and industrial chemicals (OECD, 1998). Moreover they have relatively short life-cycle and exhibit both asexual and sexual reproduction, therefore they have been proposed for testing strategies to detect effects related to endocrine disruption chemicals (CSTEE, 1999). Preliminary studies were conducted to develop multi-species tests with three selected species, Daphnia magna, Chironomus prasinus and Lymnaea sp. Studies comprised the design of indoor laboratory water/sediment systems and, because of the different lifestyles/strategies of each species, the adequate choice of sensitive life stages and endpoints. Optimum test conditions for reproduction of these species, factors involved in repeatable successful experiments and specific ecotoxicological responses after sediment exposure are discussed. The test design offers a cost/effective alternative for assessing the effects of chemicals on invertebrate reproduction covering three taxomic groups (crustaceans, insecta and mollusca) and three reproductive strategies (parthenogenesis, sexual reproduction with morphological dimorphism and sexual reproduction of hermaphrodite organisms). The design is suitable for detecting any relevant mechanisms of action including those associated to endocrine disruption. Key words: multi-species test, reproduction, n/a, n/a |
