Laboratory culture of the freshwater benthic gastropod Bellamya aeruginosa(Reeve) and its utility as a test species for sediment toxicity
Taowu Ma , Shuangjiao Gong , Ke Zhou , Cheng Zhu , Kaidong Deng , Qinghua Luo , Zijian Wang
DOI:
Received March 28, 2009,Revised September 03, 2009, Accepted , Available online
Volume 22,2010,Pages 304-313
- Summary
- References
- Related Articles
This study aimed to develop original laboratory culture and sediment toxicity testing protocols for the freshwater gastropod Bellamya
aeruginosa (Reeve), a new potential species for sediment toxicity testing. B. aeruginosa was successfully cultured with an e ective
culture system under proposed laboratory conditions. Optimal ad libitum feeding levels for larvae, juveniles, and adults were 2.0, 6.0,
and 16.0 mg fish food/(snail day), respectively. Mean survival rates of juveniles were higher than 90%. The snails could be sexed at 9
weeks of age, and their generation time is approximately 4 months. Reproduction continued all year around; the mean fecundity was
0.55 newborn/(female day). The utility of this species for bioassays was evaluated in both 10-day and 28-day case studies with artificial
sediments. The 10-day LC50 of Cu for larvae was 480 g/g dry weight (dw), and the lowest observed e ects concentration of Cu for
survival and growth of larvae was 195 g/g dw. Survival and growth are reliable indicators of acute toxicity. Larvae accumulated more
Cu than adults. B. aeruginosa exhibited a higher sensitivity to Cu exposure than standard test species (Hyalella azteca and Chironomus
tentans). The 28-day test of sediment toxicity with adults showed that fecundity was a robust endpoint indicator of reproductive toxicity,
and the biochemical endpoints of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione could be used as sensitive biomarkers for Cu-induced
oxidative damage. B. aeruginosa can be therefore recommended as a candidate for the standardization of the freshwater sediment
toxicity test protocol.
