Hans-U. Dahms

Ecotoxicology, ecophysiology, and mechanistic studies with rotifers

Invertebrates play an increasing role in assessing the impacts of environmental contaminants in aquatic ecosystems. Substantial efforts were made to identify suitable and environmentally relevant models for toxicity testing. Rotifers have a number of promising characteristics which make them candidates worth considering in such efforts. They are small, simple in their organization, genetically homozygous, easy to cultivate. Rotifers are further widely distributed and ecologically important in freshwaters, in estuaries and coast, and also play an important role in the transportation of aquatic pollutants across the food web. In the last decades there has been a substantial increase of contributions on rotifers, particularly in areas of their ecology, geophylogeny, genomics and their behavioral, physiological, biochemical and molecular responses, following exposure to environmental chemicals and other stressors. Gene expression analysis enables ecotoxicologists to study molecular mechanisms of toxicity. Rotifers also appear as useful tools in the risk assessment of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites that find their way into aquatic ecosystems because their sensitivity to some of these substances is higher than that of cladocerans and algae. In respect to endocrine disruptors, rotifers seem to be particularly sensitive to androgenic and anti-androgenic substances, whereas copepods and cladocerans are typically more affected by estrogens and juvenile hormone-like compounds. Generally, a combination of whole-animal bioassays and gene expression studies allow an understanding of toxicological mechanisms. The purpose of this review is to demarcate the potential of using rotifers as important invertebrate aquatic model organisms for ecophysiology, ecotoxicology and environmental genomics. This review does not claim to find reasons for a superior use of rotifers in these fields. But the different phylogenetic allocation of rotifers in the Platyzoa (formerly Nemathelminthes) justifies its consideration since there are evolutionary differences in biochemical and genetic performances that need to be considered. Problems, controversials and needs for further studies are discussed. We are providing a literature survey here for the last 15 years that shows a steady increase of ecotoxicological research on rotifers.

UV radiation in marine ectotherms: molecular effects and responses.

This review summarizes current knowledge on ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced cellular and molecular damage in marine ectotherms (invertebrates and fish). UVR impairs sperm motility, reduces fertilization, and causes embryo malformation that in turn affects recruitment and therefore the sustainability of natural populations. The direct molecular effects of UVR are mediated by absorption of certain wavelengths by specific macromolecules and the dissipation of the absorbed energy via photochemical reactions. Most organisms have defense mechanisms that either prevent UVR-induced damage, or mechanisms that repair the damage. Photoprotective pigments, antioxidant defense compounds, and cell cycle development genes are some of the molecules involved in UVR defense. Photoenzymatic repair and nucleotide excision repair are the two primary DNA repair systems in marine ectotherms. We anticipate that toxicogenomic studies will gain importance in UVR research because they can elucidate the primary processes involved in UVR damage and the cellular response to this damage.

Rotifers in Ecotoxicology

Rotifers are widespread and abundant in aquatic ecosystems and are valuable live feeds in aquaculture and fisheries. They are particularly useful in evaluating full life cycle and population-level effects in response to pollutant exposures. Rotifers have, therefore, been considered as a promising species in aquatic ecotoxicology. The importance of using rotifers in aquatic ecotoxicology was constantly reviewed (Snell and Janssen Hydrobiologia 313/314:231–247, 1995; Dahms et al. Aquat Toxicol 101:1–12, 2011). This chapter will focus on discussing, with diverse examples, why rotifers became promising model species in ecotoxicology, taking into account their biological, physiological, and genomic information. Ecotoxicogenomic approaches using RNA-seq and genomic approaches will be demonstrated. In particular, the monogonont rotifer Brachionus sp. will be introduced as a target taxon for ecotoxicogenomic studies with substantial genetic information.

An integrated view of gamma radiation effects on marine fauna: from molecules to ecosystems

Accidental release of nuclides into the ocean is causing health risks to marine organisms and humans. All life forms are susceptible to gamma radiation with a high variation, depending on various physical factors such as dose, mode, and time of exposure and various biological factors such as species, vitality, age, and gender. Differences in sensitivity of gamma radiation are also associated with different efficiencies of mechanisms related to protection and repair systems. Gamma radiation may also affect various other integration levels: from gene, protein, cells and organs, population, and communities, disturbing the energy flow of food webs that will ultimately affect the structure and functioning of ecosystems. Depending on exposure levels, gamma radiation induces damages on growth and reproduction in various organisms such as zooplankton, benthos, and fish in aquatic ecosystems. In this paper, harmful effects of gamma-irradiated aquatic organisms are described and the potential of marine copepods in assessing the risk of gamma radiation is discussed with respect to physiological adverse effects that even affect the ecosystem level.

A new species of Tigriopus (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Harpacticidae) from Thailand with the description of its naupliar development

Both genders of Tigriopus thailandensis sp. nov. are described from a laboratory stock raised from individuals collected from the seaweed Enteromorpha clathrata in Thailand (Bangsaen Beach, Chonburi Province). Tigriopus thailandensis sp. nov. shares with its closest relative T. japonicus Mori, 1932 two setae on the third exopodal segment of leg 4 while other congeners bear 3 inner setae. However, allobasis and exopod of antenna in both genders are much more slender and elongate than in T. japonicus. All six naupliar stages of T. thailandensis are described from the offspring of isolated females. In comparison with nauplii of T. japonicus, T. thailandensis nauplii are characterized by the following: a smaller body size throughout the naupliar phase; first antennular segment without seta, second antennular segment with only one small seta plus two longer setae; third antennular segment with additional spinules from naupliar stage II onwards; antenna bears three small spinules on the terminal exopodal segment; one additional seta on the anterior surface of the antennary basis, tubular endopod of antenna with one tiny seta midlength at naupliar stage III that increases in size; mandibular basis with several spinules on anterior surface; mandibular coxa with one spinulose seta that is smooth in T. japonicus.

Copepodid development of Tegastes falcatus (Norman, 1868) (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Tegastidae) with a discussion of the male genital somite

ABSTRACT The lateral face of the cephalosome deepens progressively during the six stages of copepodid development of Tegastes falcatus. A simple aesthetasc on the second from the proximal segment of the antennule is transformed into a bifurcate aesthetasc during the molt to copepodid II. Copepodids II–VI bear eight setae on the caudal ramus, a number unique to copepods. Formation of the arthrodial membrane separating the middle segment and distal complex of the endopod of swimming legs 2–4 is delayed until CVI, one stage later than the exopod. Gender dimorphism initially is observed in antennular segmentation, setation of the maxilliped and rami present on leg 5 at copepodid IV. At copepodid V, males and females differ in antennular segmentation, rami present on leg 5 and the shape of leg 6. Gender dimorphism at copepodid VI also includes the shape of the cephalosome, of the genital triple-somite complex, and of one seta on the caudal ramus. The morphology of the ventral attenuation of the sixth and seventh thoracic somites, the anterior abdominal somite, and the degree of rotation of leg 6 are compared for males of Tegastes falcatus, T. gemmeus, T. ctenidus, Parategastes conexus and Syngastes sp. Tegastes is composed of species whose females and males have a genital triple-somite (sixth and seventh thoracic somites plus the anterior abdominal somite not separated by arthrodial membranes). Tegastidae are diagnosed as species with the rami of leg 1 unsegmented and basis elongate; male genital somite (seventh thoracic) extended ventrally; male leg 6 present only on one side; protopod of male leg 6 unarmed; female embryo sac with 3–4 embryos; female leg 5 with broad baseoendopod forming embryo sac chamber. Species of the lineage Tegastidae plus Peltidiidae have males with an asymmetrical leg 6 in addition to the rectangular distal basal endite of the maxillule noted by Seifried (2003). A stout ventral spine with hyaline membrane on the distal segment complex of the exopod of swimming leg 4 also may be a synapomorphy for this lineage.

Identification and analysis of whole microcystin synthetase genes from two Korean strains of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa

Microcystins are cyanobacterial hepatotoxins, and are produced by nonribosomal enzyme complexes, mcy gene cluster. In this study, we report on whole mcy gene clusters from two Korean strains of M. aeruginosa that were blooming in Lake Paldang (FCY-26) and Geum river (FCY-28). Their specific gene locus, amino acid information, and sub-cluster orientation were also characterized in both strains. Both gene clusters are of 55 kb, and also each length, number and the arrangement are identical. Their sequence analysis revealed a cluster of 10 genes (mcyA, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and J) involved in the biosynthesis of microcystin, and mcyABC and mcyDEFGHIJ formed two polycistronic operon structures that are transcribed bidirectionally from a central promoter region between mcyA and mcyD. The analysis of SNPs provided different nucleotide composition and amino acid variations in two Korean strains of M. aeruginosa. This approach is useful to develop genetic indicators identifying toxic cyanobacteria and their cyanotoxins, and helpful for a better understanding of the diversities of mcy gene clusters, the biosynthesis of microcystin, and the mediation of environmental parameters causing algal blooming and HABs.

Naupliar development of Nitocra karanovici (Copepoda, Harpacticoida)

Abstract All six naupliar stages of the harpacticoid copepod Nitocra karanovici are described. A key to the identification of the naupliar stages is provided. Stages can be distinguished by number of segments of the exopod of antenna 2, setation of the limbs including the bud of the caudal ramus, and presence and setation of the bud of maxilla 1. A particular naupliar character was found in the nauplii of N. karanovici that is in common for all Ameiridimorpha, except Ameiridae and otherwise not known from other Harpacticoida. This is a pair of bean-shaped, bare medial cuticular areas of the ventral body wall present in Parastenocarididae, Cylindropsyllidae, and as in Canthocamptus, Attheyella, Moraria, and Mesochra of the Canthocamptidae.