Development of a chronic, early life-stage sub-lethal toxicity test and recovery assessment for the tropical zooxanthellate sea anemone Aiptasia pulchella.
There is an urgent need to identify additional tropical marine species and develop sensitive sub-lethal and chronic toxicity test methods for routine ecotoxicology. The tropical symbiotic sea anemone Aiptasia pulchella is a suitable species for use in ecotoxicology and here we have assessed the effects of trace metal exposures on the development of asexually produced A. pulchella pedal lacerates to a juvenile stage. Concentrations of 55 µg/L for cadmium, 262 µg/L for cobalt, 5 µg/L for copper, and 269 µg/L for zinc were estimated to inhibit normal development by 50 percent after 8-d exposures, and are among the most sensitive available toxicity estimates for marine organisms. This work illustrates the potential value of this species and sub-lethal toxicological endpoint for routine ecotoxicology in tropical marine environments.
Marine Ecology Research Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 417, Military Drive, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia. Electronic address: pelli.howe@scu.edu.au.
Pelli L
PL
Howe
Marine Ecology Research Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 417, Military Drive, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.
Amanda J
AJ
Reichelt-Brushett
Marine Ecology Research Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, PO Box 417, Military Drive, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia.
Malcolm W
MW
Clark
D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity; D054750:Ecotoxicology / Q000379:methods*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000633:toxicity; D012615:Sea Anemones / Q000187:drug effects*; D036401:Toxicity Tests, Chronic; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*; D015032:Zinc / Q000633:toxicity
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc
Aiptasia pulchella; Pedal lacerate development; Toxicity; Trace metals; Tropical marine ecotoxicology