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Application of a behavioural and biochemical endpoint in ecotoxicity testing with Exaiptasia pallida
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Application of a behavioural and biochemical endpoint in ecotoxicity testing with Exaiptasia pallida

Madeline Louise Ianna, Amanda Reichelt-Brushett, Pelli Louise Howe and Donald Brushett
Chemosphere (Oxford), Vol.257, p.127240
10/2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127240
PMID: 32516670
url
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127240View
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Abstract

Hormesis Sub-lethal toxicity Copper Recovery Zinc Tropical marine ecotoxicology Environmental Monitoring Invertebrate Biology Coastal and Estuarine Water Management
Exaiptasia pallida has been applied as a cnidarian model to assess the toxicity of various contaminants using endpoints related to growth, reproduction and mortality. However, increasingly accepted behavioural and biochemical endpoints are underrepresented in ecotoxicity testing with cnidarian species. The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of tentacle retraction and superoxide dismutase activity as behavioural and biochemical endpoints for ecotoxicity testing with E. pallida. A concentration-dependent, tentacle retraction response was found in sub-lethal toxicity testing for anemones exposed to 1–65 μg L−1 Cu and 2–630 μg L−1 Zn for 24 and 96 h. Semi-quantitative and quantitative approaches to tentacle retraction analysis showed a difference in response sensitivity, however, both methods resulted in similar 24- and 96-h EC50 values for Cu and Zn. Additionally, tentacle retraction analysis provided the benefit of identifying recovery in anemones previously exposed to 359 μg L−1 Zn following a 96-h recovery period. Conversely, no significant difference in superoxide dismutase activity was detected in anemones exposed to the Cu and Zn solutions compared with controls, after either 24- or 96-h exposures. These findings support the ease of application and sensitivity of tentacle retraction as an endpoint in ecotoxicity testing with E. pallida and recommend its suitability for use in acute, sub-lethal toxicity testing. Moreover, evidence of recovery in E. pallida following exposure suggests that recovery should be incorporated into future toxicity assessments. •Behavioural and biochemical endpoints for toxicity testing with Exaiptasia pallida.•Sensitive tentacle retraction response in E. pallida following Cu and Zn exposure.•Tentacle retraction a valuable endpoint to derive sub-lethal toxicity estimates.•SOD an unsuitable endpoint for Cu and Zn toxicity in E. pallida.•E. pallida exposed to Zn regained tentacle health following a 96 h recovery period.

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