European Ocean Biodiversity Information System

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Toxic effects of phenanthrene intensify with an increase of temperature for the populations of a free-living nematode
Pontes, L.P.; Vafeiadou, A.-M.; de França, F.J.L.; Cavalcante, R.A.; de Araújo França, D.A.; Brito, C.M.; Alves, R.N.; de Carvalho, P.S.M.; dos Santos, G.A.P. (2021). Toxic effects of phenanthrene intensify with an increase of temperature for the populations of a free-living nematode. Ecol. Indic. 120: 106868. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106868
In: Ecological Indicators. Elsevier: Shannon. ISSN 1470-160X; e-ISSN 1872-7034
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Open Marine Archive 351614 [ download pdf ]

Keywords
    Bioindicators
    Climate Change
    Global warming
    Toxicology > Ecotoxicology
    Diplolaimelloides delyi Andrássy, 1958 [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Synergistic effect

Authors  Top 
  • Pontes, L.P.
  • Vafeiadou, A.-M.
  • de França, F.J.L.
  • Cavalcante, R.A.
  • de Araújo França, D.A.
  • Brito, C.M.
  • Alves, R.N.
  • de Carvalho, P.S.M.
  • dos Santos, G.A.P.

Abstract
    Phenanthrene is one of the most common Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the marine environment. It has high lipoafinity and environmental persistence and tends to accumulate in benthic ecosystems. Exposure to phenanthrene can have severe impacts on a wide range of marine organisms, from nematodes to fish. These effects can be exacerbated with concurrent warming associated with climate change. In this study we investigated the response of free-living nematode populations of the species Diplolaimelloides delyi following exposure to different phenanthrene concentrations under normal and increased temperature conditions (from 25 °C up to 35 °C). Phenanthrene was toxic to D. delyi, causing a decrease in population growth (at concentrations ≥1 μg ml−1) and negatively affecting their development times and reproduction (at concentrations ≥2.5 μg ml−1). The observed effects intensified with increasing temperature, leading to further reduced development and population growth rate, arrested reproduction, and even mortality in 100% of the populations exposed to phenanthrene concentrations over 5 μg ml−1 at the highest temperature used (30 °C). Thermal-induced toxicity effects on marine populations can be significant, and current climate change and warming may have substantial implications for marine food webs and ecosystem functioning.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors