Effects of 17?-ethinylestradiol on zoo- and phytoplankton in lentic microcosms

Abstract

The effects of 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE), an endocrine disruptor, on zoo- and phytoplankton were studied in outdoor 230-L still-water microcosms. Cell density and biomass, diversity, and community composition were analyzed. Five microcosms were treated by controlled release for six weeks, three by direct application of EE. To investigate recovery, sampling was continued for four weeks after treatment. Most characteristics of the zooplankton were not unambiguously affected by EE. Only the relative density of copepods, especially of their larvae, decreased significantly after EE application. For phytoplankton, no unambiguous concentration- or toxodose-correlated effects on any biotic characteristics could be found. However, most properties of the phytoplankton deviated from those of controls, i.e. tended to be smaller (number of species per microcosm, biomass, cell density) or covered a wider range (diversity, evenness). PCA indicated a shift of species structure in the treated microcosms. This was supported by the species scores calculated by the principal response curve method, although the principal response curve itself showed no clear EE-correlated shifts. High variability within the biocenosis between microcosms and over time, probably because of disturbance of the ecosystem before starting of the test, might have superimposed EE-dependent effects.

Morphological abnormalities in cladocerans related to eutrophication of a tropical reservoir

“…Although many toxicity tests with cyanobacteria and zooplankton have already been carried out (Hanazato and Yasuno, 1987;Fulton and Paerl, 1988;Billoir et al, 2009;Cerbin et al, 2010;Shao et al, 2014), but the mechanism action of these substances on the zooplankton remains little known. In addition to the nutrient enrichment originated from the above causes, the continuous supply of pollutants such as hormones (Hense et al, 2004), drugs (Flaherty and Dodson, 2005) and pesticides (Hanazato, 2001) may decrease the organism reproduction rate, causing the removal of larger species, interfering in the energy transference of food chain (Sibley and Hanson, 2011) and in the biogeochemical cycles (Henry et al, 2004;Romo et al, 2013).…”

Chemical- and effect-oriented exposomics: Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR)

“…A clear toxodose-related decreasing effect, although not correlated with "treatment strength," was found for relative copepod density. This effect occurred even in the microcosm treated with the lowest level at 27 ngL −1 (concentration) or 235 day×ngL −1 (toxodose) (Hense et al 2004). …”

“…), see also Eqs. 10 and 11) is more promising than relationship to concentrations (Hense et al 2004). Recently, toxodose was found to be a potentially useful tool for timeindependent discussion of ecotoxic effects (Schramm et al 2002).…”

Workshop on rotifers in ecotoxicology

“…There is some evidence that planktonic communities are sensitive to nonylphenol and 17α-ethinylestradiol, this latter compound is known to affect only copepod densities (Hense et al, 2004), whereas nonylphenol led to lower abundance of all zooplankters (Severin et al, 2003). It should be kept in mind that the effects observed might be mediated through non-endocrine mechanisms and may be a general toxic response.…”