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2M - Monitoring of function and structure (WEP/140) Feeding Inhibition in Crustaceans: a comparison of sublethal effects for zinc. Pestana, João 1, Loureiro, Susana1, Agra, Ana1, Ré, Ana1, Henriques, Ana1, Brandão, Ana 1, Ferreira, Abel L.1, Nogueira, António J. A. 1, Soares, Amadeu M. V. M.1, 1 Departamento de Biologia. Universidade de Aveiro., Aveiro., Aveiro, Portugal ABSTRACT- The toxic effect of zinc on feeding activity was studied in selected freshwater crustaceans, namely Athyaephyra desmarestii (Decapoda), Echinogammarus meridionalis (Amphipoda) and Daphnia magna (Cladocera), and in the terrestrial isopod Porcellionides pruinosus (Isopoda). The laboratory experiments were conducted with organisms collected from the field (A. desmarestii and E. meridionalis) and with organisms from lab cultures (D. magna and P. pruinosus). Contaminated alder leaves were administrated in a range of sublethal concentrations of zinc (in the form of zinc sulphate), with the exception of the post-exposure bioassay with D. magna where organisms were allowed to fed on Chlorella vulgaris after the exposure period. Consumption rates were measured and feeding inhibition was considered. Results are discussed in terms of the sensibility of this functional endpoint in each test organism to assess the sublethal toxicity of zinc. All organisms presented an inhibition response when exposed to this range of zinc concentrations. Key words: zinc, crustaceans, feeding inhibition, sublethal effects |
