Development of a multispecies system for testing reproductive effects on aquatic invertebrates. Experience with Daphnia magna, Chironomus prasinus and Lymnaea peregra.

A cost /effective innovative approach combining three freshwater invertebrates: the cladoceran Daphnia magna, the insect Chironomus prasinus and the basommatophoran snail Lymnaea peregra, in a single system is presented. The selection combines different reproductive strategies: parthenogenesis, sexual reproduction and hermaphroditism, respectively, and covers water column, sediment, food and contact exposure. Results confirm the system's capacity. In 46 days, multi-generation, whole-life-cycle, and chronic reproduction assays can be achieved for D. magna, C. prasinus and L. peregra, respectively. The 21-day D. magna test is commonly used to assess the effects of chemicals on aquatic invertebrates. Wide concerns on its suitability for testing endocrine disrupting chemicals have been raised, particularly for substances with estrogenic activities. The combination of three species with different reproductive strategies offer a suitable approach for assessing ecologically relevant effects related to any mechanism of action, including endocrine disruption.