Fitness Evaluation of Ruditapes philippinarum Exposed to Ni.
In this study, long-term effects of Ni, a widespread heavy metal in the aquatic ecosystems, have been determined on growth and lethality of the clam Ruditapes philippinarum, a known bioindicator of the marine environment. Three/four-month-old bivalves have been exposed to different concentrations of Ni dissolved in synthetic seawater. Growth and lethality as endpoints after 28 days of treatment have been observed. Obtained results are the following: EC25= 3.97 ± 0.94 and 9.45 ± 1.59 mg/L and NOEC = 1.56 and 6.25 mg/L for growth and mortality, respectively. Moreover, this study can be considered a new tool for the evaluation of fitness of bivalve clam, together with other biological responses following to the biological impacts of metal pollution.
Regional Agency for Environmental Protection in Emilia-Romagna (ARPA ER), Ferrara, Italy.
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Savorelli
Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Rome, Italy. loredana.manfra@isprambiente.it.|Institute for the Coastal Marine Environment, National Research Council (CNR IAMC), Taranto, Italy. loredana.manfra@isprambiente.it.|Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy. loredana.manfra@isprambiente.it.
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Manfra
Regional Agency for Environmental Protection in Emilia-Romagna (ARPA ER), Ferrara, Italy.
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Croppo
Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Rome, Italy.
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Tornambè
Regional Agency for Environmental Protection in Emilia-Romagna (ARPA ER), Ferrara, Italy.
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Palazzi
Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Rome, Italy.
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Canepa
Regional Agency for Environmental Protection in Emilia-Romagna (ARPA ER), Ferrara, Italy.
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Trentini
Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Rome, Italy.
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Cicero
Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
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Faggio
D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D009532:Nickel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009532:Nickel
Growth; Marine juvenile bivalves; Mortality; Ni; Toxicity