Institute of Marine Science, National Council of Researches, Genoa, Italy.
Ecotoxicology. 2010 Mar;19(3):512-9. doi: 10.1007/s10646-010-0461-8. Epub 2010 Jan 23.
In this study, we investigated the possibility to improve a new behavioural bioassay (Swimming Speed Alteration test-SSA test) using larvae of marine cyst-forming organisms: e.g. the brine shrimp Artemia sp. and the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. Swimming speed was investigated as a behavioural end-point for application in ecotoxicology studies. A first experiment to analyse the linear swimming speed of the two organisms was performed to verify the applicability of the video-camera tracking system, here referred to as Swimming Behavioural Recorder (SBR). A second experiment was performed, exposing organisms to different toxic compounds (zinc pyrithione, Macrotrol MT-200, and Eserine). Swimming speed alteration was analyzed together with mortality. The results of the first experiment indicate that SBR is a suitable tool to detect linear swimming speed of the two organisms, since the values have been obtained in accordance with other studies using the same organisms (3.05 mm s(-1) for Artemia sp. and 0.62 mm s(-1) for B. plicatilis). Toxicity test results clearly indicate that swimming speed of Artemia sp. and B. plicatilis is a valid behavioural end-point to detect stress at sub-lethal toxic substance concentrations. Indeed, alterations in swimming speed have been detected at toxic compound concentrations as low as less then 0.1-5% of their LC(50) values. In conclusion, the SSA test with B. plicatilis and Artemia sp. can be a good behavioural integrated output for application in marine ecotoxicology and environmental monitoring programs.
在这项研究中，我们研究了利用海洋包囊生物的幼虫来改进新的行为生物测定（游泳速度改变试验-SSA 试验）的可能性：例如卤虫（Artemia sp.）和褶皱臂尾轮虫（Brachionus plicatilis）。游泳速度被作为一种行为终点来应用于生态毒理学研究。首先进行了一项实验来分析两种生物的线性游泳速度，以验证视频摄像机跟踪系统（这里称为游泳行为记录器，SBR）的适用性。然后进行了第二项实验，使生物暴露于不同的有毒化合物（吡硫鎓锌、Macrotrol MT-200 和依色林）中。分析了游泳速度的改变以及死亡率。第一项实验的结果表明，SBR 是一种检测两种生物线性游泳速度的合适工具，因为所得值与使用相同生物的其他研究相符（卤虫为 3.05mm/s，褶皱臂尾轮虫为 0.62mm/s）。毒性试验结果清楚地表明，卤虫和褶皱臂尾轮虫的游泳速度是检测亚致死浓度有毒物质应激的有效行为终点。事实上，在低于其 LC50 值的 0.1-5%的有毒化合物浓度下，已经检测到了游泳速度的改变。总之，使用褶皱臂尾轮虫和卤虫的 SSA 试验可以作为一种良好的行为综合输出，应用于海洋生态毒理学和环境监测计划。
