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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Habitat fragmentation caused by contaminants: Atrazine as a chemical barrier isolating fish populations

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Author(s):
Araujo, Cristiano V. M. [1] ; Silva, Daniel C. V. R. [2, 3] ; Gomes, Luiz E. T. [4, 3] ; Acayaba, Raphael D. [4] ; Montagner, Cassiana C. [4] ; Moreira-Santos, Matilde [5] ; Ribeiro, Rui [5] ; Pompeo, Marcelo L. M. [2]
Total Authors: 8
Affiliation:
[1] Inst Marine Sci Andalusia CSIC, Dept Ecol & Coastal Management, Campus Rio S Pedro, Puerto Real 11510, Cadiz - Spain
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Ecol, Sao Paulo - Brazil
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Engn Sch Lorena, Dept Biotechnol, Lorena, SP - Brazil
[4] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Chem, Analyt Chem Dept, Campinas, SP - Brazil
[5] Univ Coimbra, Dept Life Sci, CFE, P-3000456 Coimbra - Portugal
Total Affiliations: 5
Document type: Journal article
Source: Chemosphere; v. 193, p. 24-31, FEB 2018.
Web of Science Citations: 14
Abstract

Information on how atrazine can affect the spatial distribution of organisms is non-existent. As this effect has been observed for some other contaminants, we hypothesized that atrazine-containing leachates/discharges could trigger spatial avoidance by the fish Poecilia reticulata and form a chemical barrier isolating upstream and downstream populations. Firstly, guppies were exposed to an atrazine gradient in a non-forced exposure system, in which organisms moved freely among the concentrations, to assess their ability to avoid atrazine. Secondly, a chemical barrier formed by atrazine, separating two clean habitats (extremities of the non-forced system), was simulated to assess whether the presence of the contaminant could prevent guppies from migrating to the other side of the system. Fish were able to avoid atrazine contamination at environmentally relevant concentrations (0.02 mu g L-1), below those described to cause sub-lethal effects. The AC(50) (atrazine concentration causing avoidance to 50% of the population) was 0.065 mu g L-1. The chemical barrier formed by atrazine at 150 mu g L-1 (concentration that should produce an avoidance around 82%) caused a reduction in the migratory potential of the fish by 47%; while the chemical barrier at 1058 mu g L-1 (concentration that produces torpidity) caused a reduction in the migratory potential of the fish by 91%. Contamination by atrazine, besides driving the spatial distribution of fish populations, has potential to act as a chemical barrier by isolating fish populations. This study includes a novel approach to be integrated in environmental risk assessment schemes to assess high-tier contamination effects such as habitat fragmentation and population displacement and isolation. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 14/22581-8 - The European Union's Water Framework Directive: applications to Brazilian reservoirs reality
Grantee:Marcelo Luiz Martins Pompêo
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants