Development of sediment toxicity test with tropical peneid shrimps

Abstract

A methodology to test the toxicity of marine and estuarine sediments was developed using postlarval organisms of the marine shrimp Penaeus schmitti and P. paulensis. The tests were conducted in aquariums with a water feedback system and a sediment layer of 2 cm. The postlarvae exposure time to the sediments was 10, 28, and 52 d. The tested sediments were collected in contaminated sites of Guanabara and Sepetiba Bays and at the reference site of Ilha Grande inlet in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. The toxicity of the sediments was evidenced with exposures of 28 d or longer. The sediment from Saco do Engenho (Sepetiba Bay) was the most toxic, affecting the survival of both P. schmitti and P. paulensis. The sediment from Guanabara Bay was toxic to P. schmitti, affecting its survival after 28 d of exposure.

Mercury, zinc, and copper accumulation in mangrove sediments surrounding a large landfill in southeast Brazil

“…Guanabara Bay is a 384-km 2 eutrophic waterbody, which receives discharge from at least 7.8 million inhabitants and more than 6000 industries (Kjerfve et al, 1998). Guanabara Bay sediments show sufficient toxicity to affect benthic organisms, as experimentally observed for the shrimp Panaeus schmitti (Moraes et al, 2000).…”

Trace metal distribution in white shrimp (Litopenaeus schmitti) tissues from a Brazilian coastal area

“…This indicates fishing stocks depletion, probably resulting from overfishing and coastal environments degradation. It is known that L. schmitti is sensitive to trace metals contamination, such as Cd, Cr, and Pb (Moraes et al 2000;Barbieri 2007). Sepetiba Bay is historically contaminated by Cd and Zn (Marques et al 2006;Gomes et al 2009).…”

“…They also exhibit a fast growth rate, reaching sexual maturity within less than 1 year, and completing their life cycle in 30 months, at least. Their benthic, omnivorous and detritivorous habits make them a key species in energy transfer to other trophic levels, being useful for biomonitoring studies (Dall et al 1990;Moraes et al 2000).…”

Toxicity tests aiming to protect Brazilian aquatic systems: current status and implications for management

“…79 Also, the shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti was shown to be more sensitive than Farfantepenaeus paulensis to sediment toxicity. 80 The interest in verifying the suitability of echinoderms as bioindicators of water quality has grown in the last few years. Echinoderms are more abundant in warmer waters from tropical regions, representing 25% of the organisms tested in Northeastern Brazil (Fig.…”