Ecotoxicological studies with freshwater Calanoida copepods

• Grant number: 07/00187-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: April 01, 2007
• End date: August 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Odete Rocha
• Grantee: Denise Tieme Okumura
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The copepods constitute the largest group of small aquatic crustaceans, with more than 8,500 described species. Amongst the five orders of free-living copepods, those belonging to the Calanoida order present great endemism, which seems to be an indication of their sensitivity to chemical and physical factors. In the present work biological and ecotoxicological studies will be carried out with two species of freshwater Calanoida copepods, Argyrodiaptomus furcatus and Notodiaptomus iheringi. These species will be studied regarding its life cycle traits when cultured at standardized procedures for ecotoxicological work and their performance in ecotoxicological testing. They will be studied regarding the main aspects of life history under combinations of ambient factors in controlled conditions. Some aspects of population dynamics and growth will be analyzed. The sensitivity of these two species will be determined for several reference substances, and to ambient samples under different types and degrees of contamination. The results of the ecotoxicology tests will be express in lethal concentration (LC50). For the calculation of the LC50 values and statistical analyses, the program Trimmed Spearman-Karber will be used. These studies might provide a greater insight on the changes in the structure of the aquatic communities as a consequence of alterations in the quality of the water, providing a scientific basis for handling biodiversity and freshwater conservation.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

OKUMURA, Denise Tieme. Ecotoxicological studies with the species Argyrodiaptomus furcatus and Notodiaptomus iheringi (Copepoda, Calanoida). 2011. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD) São Carlos.