The influence of tributyltin chloride and polychlorinated biphenyls on swimming behavior, body growth, reproduction, and activity of biotransformation enzymes in daphnia magna

Abstract

Exposure to tributyltin chloride (TBT) at 7.1 μg L−1 or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) at 1.5 μg L−1 significantly affected Daphnia magna causing rapid decreases in mean swimming activity and a change in the preferred swimming depth. Lower exposure concentrations (0.1 μg L−1 TBT or 0.1 μg L−1 PCB) did not significantly alter swimming behavior. Exposure to medium and high TBT concentrations (0.1 μg L−1 and 7.1 μg L−1) caused a decrease in body growth and decreased the number of newborn daphnids. PCB exposure at 1.5 μg L−1 and 12 μg L−1 did not affect reproduction or body growth of the animals. The lowest exposure levels (0.1 μg L−1 PCB or 0.02 μg L−1 TBT) did not alter any behavioral or ecophysiological parameter of the daphnids. Exposure to PCB as high as 15 μg L−1 or TBT as high as 6.6 μg L−1 had no effect on daphnid glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione-peroxidase activity. © 2006, Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.