title: Swimming speed alteration in the early developmental stages of Paracentrotus lividus sea urchin as ecotoxicological endpoint.
abstract: Behavioral endpoints have been used for decades to assess chemical impacts at concentrations unlikely to cause mortality. With recently developed techniques, it is possible to investigate the swimming behavior of several organisms under laboratory conditions. The aims of this study were: i) assessing for the first time the feasibility of swimming speed analysis of the early developmental stage sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus by an automatic recording system ii) investigating any Swimming Speed Alteration (SSA) on P. lividus early stages exposed to a chemical reference; iii) identifying the most suitable stage for SSA test. Results show that the swimming speed of all the developmental stages was easily recorded. The swimming speed was inhibited as a function of toxicant concentration. Pluteus were the most appropriate stage for evaluating SSA in P. lividus as ecotoxicological endpoint. Finally, swimming of sea urchin early stages represents a sensitive endpoint to be considered in ecotoxicological investigations.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Science (ISMAR), National Council of Researches (CNR), Via De Marini 6, 16149 Genova, Italy. Electronic address: silvia.morgana@ge.ismar.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morgana
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Science (ISMAR), National Council of Researches (CNR), Via De Marini 6, 16149 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gambardella
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISVA), Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Falugi
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), Università di Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 5, 16136 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pronzato
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Science (ISMAR), National Council of Researches (CNR), Arsenale Tesa 104, Castello 2737/F, 30122 Venezia, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garaventa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Science (ISMAR), National Council of Researches (CNR), Via De Marini 6, 16149 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faimali
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D054750:Ecotoxicology / Q000379:methods*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000187:drug effects; D047328:Paracentrotus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013550:Swimming; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Behavioral endpoint; Echinoderms; Ecotoxicology; Larval bioassay; Sea urchin; Sublethal effects