title: Cadmium toxicity assessment in juveniles of the Austral South America amphipod Hyalella curvispina.
abstract: Hyalella curvispina is representative of zoobenthic communities in Austral South America. It is taxonomically close to Hyalella azteca and abundant in fresh water bodies of the pampasic region of Argentina. It is usually used as test organism in ecotoxicological studies at a regional level, and there is a strong concern to increase the knowledge of both their biology and their sensitivity to different toxic agents. The aim of the present work was to assess the effects of cadmium on H. curvispina juveniles exposed to concentrations expected in the water bodies of the distribution area of the species. Survival, growth and cadmium body burden were evaluated in aqueous and solid matrices under fixed experimental conditions. Animals were exposed in ten-day static toxicity bioassays to 2.5, 5.25 and 11.25 μg Cd/L for the aqueous-phase bioassays, and to 0.85, 2.8 and 5.6 mg Cd/Kg dry sediment for the solid-phase bioassays. In water only assays, the animals exposed to 11.25 μg Cd/L showed a significant decrease in survival and growth. In the sediment bioassays, no effect was observed on survival, and weight was significantly reduced at the highest concentration. Cadmium uptake was concentration dependent for both assay matrices and one order of magnitude higher in the aqueous medium than in the solid matrix. Results indicate that juveniles of H. curvispina are sensitive to cadmium concentrations expected in their environment and thus confirm their importance as test organisms for ecotoxicity assessment in water bodies within the distribution area of the species.
authors.affiliation: Applied Ecophysiology Program, Basic Sciences Department, Institute of Ecology and Sustainable Development (INEDES), National University of Luján, Casilla de Correo 221, B6700ZBA-Luján, Argentina.
authors.forename: Anabella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giusto
authors.affiliation: Applied Ecophysiology Program, Basic Sciences Department, Institute of Ecology and Sustainable Development (INEDES), National University of Luján, Casilla de Correo 221, B6700ZBA-Luján, Argentina.
authors.forename: Lucas A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Somma
authors.affiliation: Applied Ecophysiology Program, Basic Sciences Department, Institute of Ecology and Sustainable Development (INEDES), National University of Luján, Casilla de Correo 221, B6700ZBA-Luján, Argentina; Scientific Research Commission (CIC), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: lucreciaferrari@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lucrecia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrari
mesh_terms: D033304:Amphipoda / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D005618:Fresh Water; D013020:South America; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium