Using the microcrustacean Dendrocephalus brasiliensis Pesta 1921 (Crustacea: Anostraca) in the removal of cyanobacteria in experimental systems

• Grant number: 12/21328-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: April 01, 2013
• End date: March 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Maria da Graça Gama Melão
• Grantee: Denise Tieme Okumura
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 08/02078-9 - Ecophysiological and production studies of the freshwater Anostraca Dendrocephalus brasiliensis Pesta 1921 and its implications on zooplanktonic and nektonic communities, AP.TEM

Abstract

Many cases of massive development of cyanobacteria have been reported and there is growing concern about this because of dozens of species of cyanobacteria can produce secondary metabolites that are harmful to humans and other components of the aquatic biota. More disturbing, however, is that the cells of cyanobacteria and their cyanotoxins are difficult to remove by the systems of traditional water treatment. However, there are more effective methods, for example, biomanipulation (line of research which aims to modify food chains), that it could increase the pressure of herbivory about cyanobacteria. A promising candidate is Dendrocephalus brasiliensis (Crustacea: Anostraca), known as branconeta, presents characteristics of voracious herbivore, that remove the algal biomass transforming into animal protein, more easily assimilated. In this work, the effects of ingestion of cyanobacteria on the survival of branconetas will be investigated. Also will be observed the ability of Dendrocephalus brasiliensis in removing cyanobacterial cells, analizing the effectiveness of the treatment through physical, chemical and ecological parameters; and observe if there is bioaccumulation of cyanotoxins between branconetas and fish, looking for a more realistic assessment of the efficiency of biomanipulation in water bodies of Brazil