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  • Swimming behaviour as an alternative endpoint to assess differences in abiotic stress sensitivities between strains of Brachionus koreanus (Rotifera: Monogononta)
    Publication . Granada, Luana; Lemos, Marco F.L.; Bossier, Peter; Novais, Sara C.
    Brachionus plicatilis is a cosmopolitan rotifer used as a model organism in several research areas and as live food in aquaculture. Being a species complex, responses to stressors vary even among strains of the same species and, thus, the responses of one species are not representative of the whole complex. This study aimed to address the effects of extreme salinity ranges, and different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, copper, cadmium, and chloramphenicol, in two strains of B. koreanus (MRS10 and IBA3) from B. plicatilis species complex, by assessing effects on their survival and swimming capacity. Neonates (0–4 h old) were exposed to the stressors in 48 well-microplates, for 24 and 6 h, to evaluate lethal and behavioural effects, respectively. Tested conditions of chloramphenicol did not show any effects on rotifers. The behavioural endpoint showed to be particularly sensitive to assess the effects of high salinity, hydrogen peroxide, and copper sulfate, as swimming capacity impairment was observed for both strains in the lowest concentrations used in lethal tests. Overall, results showed that IBA3 was more tolerant to the majority of stressors, comparing to MRS10, which may be due to differences in physiological characteristics, highlighting the importance of performing multiclonal experiments. Also, swimming capacity inhibition proved to be a good alternative to the classical lethality tests, being sensitive to lower concentrations and with shorter exposure periods.
  • Genetic identification and comparative study on life history parameters of two strains belonging to Brachionus plicatilis species complex (Rotifera: Monogononta)
    Publication . Granada, Luana; Lemos, Marco F.L.; Bossier, Peter; Novais, Sara C.
    The rotifer Brachionus plicatilis is an important species for aquaculture, due to its use as food for bivalves, and fish and crustaceans larvae in hatcheries. However, being a species complex, it has become increasingly important to catalogue and describe the species and biotypes that constitute this complex. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to genetically identify two morphologically identical strains and evaluate their suitability to be used in aquaculture under the studied conditions. A correct identification and knowledge of life history characteristics of the biotypes and isolated strains is vital to avoid mass mortalities in aquaculture and to better interpret the responses of the organisms when these are used as a bioindicator and model for ecotoxicology. Strains MRS10 and IBA3 were identified as B. koreanus and, even though they have been maintained under the same laboratory conditions for several years, significant differences in several life history parameters were observed. A life table assay showed IBA3 rotifers to be larger at first reproduction, and to have longer post-reproductive period and mean lifespan. On the other hand, MRS10 rotifers produced less non-viable eggs and had higher population growth rate. Both strains showed to be a potential model for ecotoxicological and molecular studies, mainly due to the ease of maintenance, short generation time, and reproduction via parthenogenesis. However, MRS10 might present better characteristics than IBA3 to be reared in aquaculture as live food.