title: Predicting the effects of copper on local population decline of 2 marine organisms, cobia fish and whiteleg shrimp, based on avoidance response.
abstract: The present study focuses on avoidance response to predict population decline of the marine fish Rachycentron canadum (cobia) and larvae of the estuarine shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (whiteleg shrimp). Avoidance of approximately 60% was recorded for the cobia fry exposed to 1.0 mg Cu/L, 1.60 mg Cu/L, and 1.80 mg Cu/L. For the shrimp larvae, avoidance was approximately 80% for all Cu concentrations. The population decline of cobia fry was conditioned by avoidance in lower concentrations. However, in higher concentrations mortality begins to play an important role. The displacement toward uncontaminated habitats might determine shrimp population decline. A Cu-contaminated environment can determine the habitat selection of both species and, therefore, their local population decline.
authors.affiliation: Central Department of Research, Ecuadorian Aquatic Ecotoxicology group, Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, Manta, Ecuador.|Centre of Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cristiano V M
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Central Department of Research, Ecuadorian Aquatic Ecotoxicology group, Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, Manta, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Luís A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Cedeño-Macías
authors.affiliation: Central Department of Research, Ecuadorian Aquatic Ecotoxicology group, Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, Manta, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Victoria C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Vera-Vera
authors.affiliation: Central Department of Research, Ecuadorian Aquatic Ecotoxicology group, Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, Manta, Ecuador.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Salvatierra
authors.affiliation: Central Department of Research, Ecuadorian Aquatic Ecotoxicology group, Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, Manta, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Elizabeth N V
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Ocean Farm, Punta Blanca, Manta, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Ufredo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zambrano
authors.affiliation: Ocean Farm, Punta Blanca, Manta, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017753:Ecosystem; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D033561:Penaeidae; D010473:Perciformes; D011153:Population; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003300:Copper
keywords: Avoidance; Contamination gradient; Environmental disturbance; Habitat selection; Nonforced exposure