Behavioural sensitivity of a key Southern Ocean species (Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba) to p,p '-DDE exposure

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
• Main Authors: Poulsen, Anita H., Kawaguchi, So, King, Catherine K., King, Robert A., Bengtson Nash, Susan M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Academic Press 2012
• Subjects: Antarctic krill; Persistent organic pollutant (POP); p,p '-DDE; Behavioural toxicity; 2307 Health; Toxicology and Mutagenesis; 2310 Pollution; 2739 Public Health; Environmental and Occupational Health; Antarctic; Southern Ocean; Antarc*; Antarctic Krill; Euphausia superba
• Online Access: https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:264321

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been frequently measured throughout the Southern Ocean food web for which little information is available to assess the potential risks of POP exposure. The current study evaluated the toxicological sensitivity of a key Southern Ocean species, Antarctic krill, to aqueous exposure of p,p′-dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene (p,p′-DDE). Behavioural endpoints were used as indicators of sublethal toxicity. Immediate behavioural responses (partial immobility and tail flicking) most likely reflect neurotoxicity, while the p,p′-DDE body residue causing a median level of sublethal toxicity in Antarctic krill following 96h exposure (IEC50 =3.9±0.21mmol/kg lipid weight) is comparable to those known to cause sublethal narcosis in temperate aquatic species. Critical body residues (CBRs) were more reproducible across tests than effective seawater concentrations. These findings support the concept of the CBR approach, that effective tissue residues are comparable across species and geographical ranges despite differences in environmental factors.