title: Factors influencing the sensitivity of Gammarus aequicauda population from Mar Piccolo in Taranto (Southern Italy).
abstract: Laboratory experiments were performed on the amphipod Gammarus aequicauda in order to evaluate the relationship between the seasonal sensitivity to a reference toxicant and seasonal lipid content, temperature and algal biomass. The organisms were collected in a clean site in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian sea) from March 2003 to February 2004. The total lipid content of G. aequicauda varied from 5.5% in spring to a maximum of 19% in autumn, then decreased until reaching 9.8% of dry weight in winter. Triacyglycerols (TG) were the most abundant lipid class in G. aequicauda, except in spring, when there was a higher percentage of phospholipids (PL). Sterol levels were lower. The sensitivity of G. aequicauda during different seasons was significantly affected by total lipids (r=0.97; p<0.01), but no relationship was found with algal biomass (r=0.21; p>0.05) and temperature (r=0.29; p>0.05). The highest LC(50) values appeared with an increase of total lipids. This study will be used to improve the interpretation of ecotoxicological test results with G. aequicauda.
authors.affiliation: CNR-Institute for Coastal Marine Environment, Section of Taranto, Via Roma 3, 74100 Taranto, Italy.
authors.forename: Ermelinda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Prato
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biandolino
mesh_terms: D033304:Amphipoda / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018533:Biomass; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007558:Italy; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons; D012623:Seawater; D013696:Temperature; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical