Toxicity assessment of copper, pentachlorophenol and phenanthrene by lethal and sublethal endpoints on nauplii of Tigriopus fulvus

Abstract

This article evaluates the sensitivity of two endpoints in ecotoxicological tests using nauplii of Tigriopus fulvus: the classical index of mortality and the variation in the number of moults. The experiment was conducted by exposing the nauplii to three different types of chemical compounds: copper (heavy metal), pentachlorophenol (pesticide) and phenanthrene (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon). For each substance, 50% effect concentration, no observed effect concentration and lowest observed effect concentration were evaluated for both endpoints. The system showed good sensitivity for pentachlorophenol and copper, although no relevant effects were found for phenanthrene. The endpoint ‘number of moults’ during larval development showed higher sensitivity than the mortality endpoint.

Keywords:

• Tigriopus fulvus
• moulting
• copper
• pentachlorophenol
• phenanthrene

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr O. Faraponova for guidance and assistance; ISPRA and UNICHIM provided aims for the research and the incentives to conduct the trials.