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3F - Coastal Zone Mgnt (WEP/181) Mesopodopsis slabberi (Crustacea, Mysidacea): a new specie for toxicology tests? Sardo, Ana Margarida1, Azeiteiro, Ulisses2, Morgado, Fernando1, 1 Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal2 IMAR, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal ABSTRACT- M. slabberi is a euryhaline and suprabenthic mysid that presents a wide geographic distribution and is one of the most important mysids species in coastal shallow waters. Frequently occurs in estuarine systems where it is usually, the most abundant mysid, therefore its importance to those marine ecosystems is unquestionable. In laboratory studies it is essential to have a well defined and rigorous acclimation protocol, possible to follow any time when necessary. The present work is part of a M. slabberi ecotoxicological study and represents the first step on establishing a description of this mysid tolerance to chemical polluters typical of estuarine environments. The main purpose was to determine and gather a group of conditions to achieve better laboratory acclimation of this mysid to, immediately after, proceed to toxicology tests. In order to accomplish a strict and well-defined protocol it was necessary to improve the acclimation method, repeating the procedure several times, until satisfactory results were attained. The information available on laboratory studies involving M. slabberi mentioned only temperature and salinity values for the specie, existing a void in what refers to water and food types, among other. The lack of data about laboratory condition preferable by this specie was the greater obstacle and conducted to innumerous preliminary tests and protocol improvement. It is possible to assert that acclimation was achieved, for it occurred during a period of time, longer than most institutions consider suitable, with a low mortality. Nevertheless it is strongly believed that 12 days of acclimation is a far too long time for this specie, when experiments are to be made after this period, due to its short life cycle. Key words: estuaries, Mesopodopsis slabberi, ecotoxicological, acclimation |
