The effect of fullerenes and functionalized fullerenes on Daphnia magna phototaxis and swimming behavior

Abstract

The effects of carbon fullerenes (C(60) ) on the environment is a growing concern as the use of nanotechnology continues to increase. Previous studies have reported alteration in Daphnia magna behavior, including increased hopping frequency, heart rate, and appendage movement in response to tetrahydrofuran-solubilized C(60) and increased hopping rate and appendage movement in response to tetrahydrofuran-solubilized C(60) HxC(70) Hx exposure. The objective of the current study was to evaluate effects of water-stirred C(60) and sonicated carboxylic acid functionalized fullerenes (fC(60) ) on D. magna behavior. Behavioral endpoints are important because changes in behavior can influence predator avoidance behaviors, alter predation risk, and potentially lead to population-level effects in D. magna. To evaluate the potential effect of fullerenes on phototactic behavior, D. magna were exposed to 545.4 µg/L C(60) and 545.6 µg/L fC(60) , and vertical position was monitored. Daphnia magna were also exposed to 545.4 µg/L C(60) , 545.6 µg/L fC(60) , and 829.3 µg/L fC(60) , and swimming movements were recorded. Fullerenes altered the vertical migration response of D. magna to the addition of food, but D. magna vertical position response to predator cues was similar for fullerenes and controls. In addition, D. magna reduced swimming speed when exposed to C(60) , but other components of D. magna swimming behavior were not affected. This research supports previous findings and suggests that C(60) may influence D. magna behavior and highlights the need for further research on sublethal behavioral modifications in aquatic organisms in response to nanomaterials.

Potential Impact of Low-Concentration Silver Nanoparticles on Predator–Prey Interactions between Predatory Dragonfly Nymphs and Daphnia magna as a Prey

“…Physical presence of the predators in the laboratory experiment should provide both the visual 29 and chemical cues to Daphnia, 28 which could incur stress via predation risk as in the natural environment. 27,28,30 This critical knowledge gap is addressed here by investigating the potential impacts of low-concentration citratecoated silver nanoparticles (citrate−nAg; 2 μg L −1 as total Ag) on the interactions of D. magna (as a prey) with the predatory dragonfly (Anax junius: Odonata) nymphs. We evaluated the spatial migratory patterns, survival, and reproduction in D. …”

Histaminergic signaling in the central nervous system of Daphnia and a role for it in the control of phototactic behavior

“…Michels and De Meester, 1998;Cousyn et al, 2001;Kieu et al, 2001). Phototactic behavior in daphnids is also influenced by a variety of environmental pollutants (Michels et al, 2000;Semsari and Megateli, 2007;Brausch et al, 2011) and, given its relative ease to observe and quantify (Dojmi and Rotondo, 1988), has been used to monitor for these chemicals (e.g. Whitman and Miller, 1982;Martins et al,1997;Van Gool and Ringelberg, 1998;Rhode et al, 2001); changes in the fitness of many individuals simultaneously could have significant consequences for the ecosystem as a whole.…”

Three‐dimensional tracking of multiple aquatic organisms with a two camera system

“…Only few studies were conducted in relative large volumes observing all three components of the swimming velocity and hence allow distinguishing between motions close to or far away from a boundary (Doall et al 1998;Strickler 1998;Dur et al 2011). Such three-dimensional observations had been conducted using multiple cameras (Leptos et al 2009) or only a singular camera in combination with mirrors (Doall et al 1998;Strickler 1998;Brausch et al 2011). Additional observational bias is potentially introduced by modified environmental conditions like high light intensities, which are usually required for optical imaging techniques.…”