Effects of fluoxetine on the reproduction of two prosobranch mollusks: Potamopyrgus antipodarum and Valvata piscinalis

Fluoxetine is a widely used antidepressant, frequently found in aquatic ecosystems. We investigated its effects on two freshwater prosobranch gastropods: Valvata piscinalis (European valve snail) and Potamopyrgus antipodarum (New Zealand mudsnail), which have different reproductive modes. The fecundity of V. piscinalis (cumulate number of eggs at day 42) was not affected with an NOEC of 100 μg/L nominal concentration (69 μg/L measured concentration). The mudsnail P. antipodarum responded in a biphasic dose-effect curve at low concentrations. The cumulate number of neonates at day 42 had an LOEC of 100 μg/L (69 μg/L) and an NOEC of 33.3 μg/L (13 μg/L), whereas the embryos in the brood pouch at day 42 only showed an LOEC of 3.7 μg/L (1 μg/L). We also observed histological effects in P. antipodarum (gonadal thickness). Among the sexual steroids we measured only testosterone which varied, independent of reproduction. Moreover the use of two closely related species highlights the interspecific variability.     

Spatial distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in an e-waste dismantling region in Southeast China: Use of apple snail (Ampullariidae) as a bioindicator

Fengjiang is a large e-waste dismantling site located in southeast China. In this paper, apple snail and soil samples were collected from this e-waste dismantling site and 25 vicinal towns to investigate the contamination status, spatial distributions and congener patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Total PCB concentrations in apple snails (3.78-1812 ng g⁻¹ dry weight (dw)) were significant higher than that in soil samples (0.48-90.1 ng g⁻¹ dw). PBDE (excluding BDE 209) concentrations in apple snail and soil samples ranged from 0.09 to 27.7 ng g⁻¹ dw and 0.06 to 31.2 ng g⁻¹ dw, respectively. Concentrations of PCBs and PBDEs in snails and soils correlated negatively with the distance from Fengjiang. Both the concentrations and profiles of the pollutants were significantly correlated (p < 0.05) between the snail and soil samples, indicating the suitability of apple snail as a reliable bioindicator for PCBs and PBDEs contamination in this region. Relatively high concentrations of PCBs and PBDEs at locations far from e-waste dismantling sites implied that these pollutants have been transported to surrounding regions.     

Histopathological effects of copper and lithium in the ramshorn snail, Marisa cornuarietis (Gastropoda, Prosobranchia)

The aim of this study was to determine and quantify effects of copper and lithium in tissues of early juveniles of the ramshorn snail, Marisa cornuarietis. For this purpose, hatchlings of M. cornuarietis were exposed for 7 days to a range of five different sublethal concentrations of copper (5, 10, 25, 50, and 75 μg Cu²⁺ L⁻¹) and lithium (50, 100, 200, 1000, and 5000 μg Li⁺ L⁻¹). Both metals changed the tissue structure of epidermis, hepatopancreas, and gills, varying between slight and strong reactions, depending on the copper and lithium concentration. The histopathological changes included alterations in epithelial and mucous cells of the epidermis, swelling of hepatopancreatic digestive cells, alterations in the number of basophilic cells, abnormal apices of digestive cells, irregularly shaped cilia and changes in the amount of mucus in the gills. The most sensible organ in M. cornuarietis indicating Cu or Li pollution is the hepatopancreas (LOECs were 10 μg Cu²⁺ L⁻¹, or 200 μg Li⁺ L⁻¹). In epidermis, mantle and gills relevant effects occurred with higher LOECs (50 μg Cu²⁺ L⁻¹, or 1000 μg Li⁺ L⁻¹). Base on LOECs, our results indicated that histopathological endpoints are high sensitivity to copper and lithium compared to endpoints for embryonic developmental toxicity.     

生物卵化石研究进展简述

卵生是动物界最普遍的繁殖方式,卵的孵化对繁殖季节突发的气候变化响应敏感,孵化成败又与生物种群数量变动和群落演替密切相关,因此卵化石具有重要的古生物学、古气候学、古生态学研究价值。但由于卵生动物种类十分丰富,卵形态特征多样,研究领域广泛,有必要总结梳理卵化石的研究进展。本文通过对主要卵生动物类群卵的形态特征,以及卵化石在古生物学、古气候学、古生态学方面研究进展的回顾,发现卵化石的研究主要集中在脊椎动物类群,为脊椎动物演化提供了重要证据,但是由于脊椎动物卵化石通常难以建立连续的长序列记录,其古生态学和古气候学研究极为不足。然而,无脊椎动物卵化石由于数量丰富,具有统计意义,其在古生态学、古气候学研究领域具有重要意义,但是其在古生物学,包括种属鉴定等方面的研究需要加强。在无脊椎动物中,蜗牛及其卵化石在黄土-古土壤地层中保存丰富且地层分布连续,最有可能建立卵化石的长序列。通过现代过程研究,明确蜗牛卵的气候指示意义,建立第四纪蜗牛卵化石长序列,发挥蜗牛卵化石的古气候学和古生态学研究价值,是亟需开展的研究工作。     

薇甘菊浸提液对福寿螺主要器官组织损伤的扫描电镜观察

采用薇甘菊（Mikania micrantha H.B.K.）的乙酸乙酯浸提液对福寿螺（Pomacea canaliculata）进行浸杀,通过扫描电镜观察福寿螺头足部、外套膜及肝脏组织的损伤状况,探讨薇甘菊化感物质对福寿螺器官组织结构的影响。经过薇甘菊质量浓度为100mg·L^-1提取液浸杀2d后,福寿螺主要器官出现了明显的组织损伤。头足部肌肉组织出现明显的杂乱丝条状并有断裂,部分有侵蚀剥落,表现为较大的组织缺损;外套膜有大量的细胞被浸润,呈疏松不整齐的结构;肝脏表面粗糙,凹凸相间的皱褶形成起伏不平的组织,其间有深浅不一的裂痕,并有侵蚀孔状损伤。扫描电镜的观察结果可为探讨薇甘菊浸提液对福寿螺的毒杀机理提供一定的依据。     

Integrating Nonindigenous Aquatic Plant Control with Protection of Snail Kite Nests in Florida

The endangered snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) feeds primarily on the freshwater apple snail (Pomacea paludosa) in Florida. The nonindigenous, floating water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) impede kites from finding snails. Effective control of these aquatic plants in the littoral zone of central and south Florida lakes benefits kites by maintaining open foraging habitat. However, incidental herbicide spraying of nesting substrates result in nest collapse when kites breed in nonwoody, emergent plants [cattail (Typha spp.) and giant bulrush (Scirpus validus)] in the outer littoral zone during lower lake levels. Many endangered species recovery plans and their implementation have experienced problems due to inaction and/or noncooperation by various governmental agencies and their personnel. Herein, we describe the development and implementation of a buffer zone strategy to prevent secondary impacts from an aquatic plant control program to snail kites nesting on lakes in central and south Florida. A strategy was jointly developed by personnel of five state and federal agencies to control herbicide application near kite nesting areas during the normal breeding season. Although requiring various modifications during its implementation, this cooperative effort successfully integrated aquatic plant control objectives with snail kite conservation on Lake Okeechobee during 1988. The program was expanded the following year to lakes Kissimmee and Tohopekaliga. Since the implementation of the snail kite impact preclusion program, no nest loss was attributed to incidental herbicide applications on lakes Okeechobee, Kissimmee, and Tohopekaliga.     

Metal Accumulation by Riverine and Lacustrine Populations of Angulyagra Oxytropis (Benson) (Gastropoda : Viviparidae)

Cadmium, chromium, iron, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc concentrations were determined in sediment and body tissues, viz. digestive gland, mantle and shell, of the freshwater snail, Angulyagra oxytropis (Benson) (Gastropoda : Viviparidae), from River Barak and one of its floodplain lakes in Cachar district, Assam State, Northeastern India. The concentrations of all the metals except iron are significantly higher in the lake sediment. When compared to their riverine counterparts, the lacustrine snails contain higher concentrations of cadmium, chromium and iron in their mantle; nickel and zinc in digestive gland; manganese in both digestive gland and mantle; and lead in all the three tissues examined. The accumulation patterns of most of the metals varied considerably between the two sites. The implications of these findings in storage, sequestration and detoxification of metals by this animal are discussed. The study also indicates that A. oxytropis may be a potential biological indicator of metal contamination in freshwater ecosystems.     

The influence of environmental factors on the molluscicidal activity of Euphorbia milii latex

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of biotic (snail size and presence of food during the test) and abiotic factors (temperature, water hardness and concentration of organic materials) on the molluscicidal activity of Euphorbia milii latex. Bioassays were conducted with B. glabrata (10 snails per concentration) and snail lethality was evaluated after 24 hr and 48 hr of exposure to lyophilized latex solutions. Neither the degree of water hardness, nor the presence of food during the test affected latex‐induced snail mortality. The snail size had a minor influence on E.milii‐induced snail lethality. Newly‐hatched (shell diameter ≤ 1mm) as well as young (3–8 mm) snails were slightly less susceptible than older (10–25 mm) mollusks. On the other hand, the molluscicidal effect of E.milii latex was modified by environmental factors such as temperature (i.e. LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ values were halved for every 10°C rise in temperature) and concentration of organic materials in the water (i.e. the higher the concentration of organic matter, the higher the LC₅₀ value). The efficacy of E.milii latex as a molluscicide can be modified by factors such as water temperature and concentration of organic materials, and to a lesser extent by snail size.     

Copper desorption in flooded agricultural soils and toxicity to the Florida apple snail (Pomacea paludosa): implications in Everglades restoration

Copper (Cu) desorption and toxicity to the Florida apple snail were investigated from soils obtained from agricultural sites acquired under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Copper concentrations in 11 flooded soils ranged from 5 to 234 mg/kg on day 0 and from 6.2 to 204 mg/kg on day 28 (steady-state). The steady-state Cu concentration in overlying water ranged from 9.1 to 308.2 microg/L. In a 28-d growth study, high mortality in snails occurred within 9 to 16 d in two of three soil treatments tested. Growth of apple snails over 28 d was affected by Cu in these two treatments. Tissue Cu concentrations by day 14 were 12-23-fold higher in snails exposed to the three soil treatments compared to controls. The endangered Florida snail kite and its main food source, the Florida apple snail, may be at risk from Cu exposure in these managed agricultural soil-water ecosystems.     

内河螺蛳（Margaryamelanioides）对水环境中邻苯二甲酸酯类的富集

为探索内河底栖生物对水环境中PAEs的富集规律,采用气相色谱质谱法定量测定宁波城市内河回龙段水体、底泥、螺蛳肉与壳中DMP、DEP、DIPP、DPP、DBP、BBP、DEHP和DOP的浓度。结果表明研究河域底泥、水样、螺蛳（Margaryamelanioides）肉和螺壳样品主要存在DMP、DBP、DEHP3种PAEs,DMP的平均浓度分别为3．435μg／g、0．023μg／g、1．239μg／g和0．712μg／g,DBP为2．613μg／g、0．484μg／g、6．984μg／g和0．282μg／g;DEHP为13．891μg/g、0．030μg／g、4．938μg／g和0．156μg／g,∑PAEs表现为底泥〉螺蛳肉〉螺壳〉水样。螺蛳肉及螺蛳壳对酯类富集能力分别表现为DEHP〉DBP〉DMP,DMP〉DEHP〉DBP,且螺蛳肉的富集能力明显强于螺蛳壳。螺蛳肉与水样DMP浓度呈显著的正相关,DBP和DEHP不相关;螺蛳壳中3种PAEs均与采样位点水样的PAEs呈显著的相关性;螺蛳肉、螺蛳壳与底泥的PAEs浓度均呈显著的相关性;各位点的螺蛳肉与螺蛳壳富集的3种PAEs浓度均呈显著的正相关。