The effects of the pharmaceutical carbamazepine on life history characteristics of flat-headed mayflies (Heptageniidae) and aquatic resource interactions

Abstract

Pharmaceutical pollutants are commonly detected in freshwater ecosystems around the world and have biological effects on aquatic organisms. However, current understanding of the influence this contaminant class has on freshwater communities and ecosystems is lacking. Recently the scientific community has called for research focusing on certain pharmaceuticals due to their ubiquity and potential toxicity. Carbamazepine is one of these pharmaceuticals. To better understand the effect carbamazepine has on life history characteristics of aquatic organisms and consumer-resource interactions, we quantified the influence of carbamazepine on the development, growth and behavior of mayfly nymphs (Stenonema sp.) and the alterations in food consumer-resource interactions between Stenonema and algae (Chaetophora). Microcosms were assembled in a factorial design containing algae and mayfly nymphs native to central Indiana and dosed with environmentally relevant concentrations of carbamazepine. From this ecotoxicological experiment we were able to infer that carbamazepine at 2,000 ng/L influenced the development and behavior of Stenonema nymphs and the body dimensions of adult individuals. However, it appears that carbamazepine does not influence consumer-resource interactions at concentrations found in surface waters. The pharmaceutical carbamazepine may influence the behavior, growth and development of mayflies, which could have significant consequences at the population, community and ecosystem level.

Derivation of Water Quality Criteria for Carbamazepine and Ecological Risk Assessment in the Nansi Lake Basin

“…The following supporting information can be downloaded at: , Table S1: Instrument parameter for HPLC-MS/MS; Table S2: Carbamazepine occurrence in surface water of China; Table S3: Chronic toxicity of carbamazepine to freshwater animals. References [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 ] are cited in the supplementary materials.…”

Effects of carbamazepine in aquatic biota

“…In flat-headed mayflies Stenonema spp, exposure 9 d to 2 μg L −1 CBZ decreased mass in adult males and length in adult females. 59 In G. rarus , exposure to 30 and 90 d to 10 μg L −1 CBZ increased 1.1× the hepatosomatic indices HSI. 44 In D. magna Straus, exposure 21 d to 1 μg L −1 CBZ reduced 1.1× growth.…”

“…58 In flat-headed mayflies Stenonema spp, molting was delayed 6 d by the exposure 9 d to 2 μg L −1 CBZ, while lower concentration down to 2 ng L −1 CBZ had no effect. 59 In D. magna , the generation exposed to a concentration of 0.5 μg L −1 of CBZ exhibited a delay in maturity of 5 to 6 d. 60 In Hydra attenuata , 96 h of exposure from 1 to 50 mg L −1 CBZ, revealed that increasing exposure concentrations, slowed the progression in maturity stages of individuals. 61 In Daphnia pulex 100, and 200 μg L −1 CBZ exposure decreased growth rates and delayed maturity, while exposure to 1 μg L −1 CBZ speeded maturation.…”

“…Exposure to 1, 2 and 5 μg L −1 CBZ of D. rerio embryos and larvae resulted at 27, 62 or 82 hpf in enhanced movements and sensitivity to light stimulation in the exposed zebrafish embryos and larvae, 43 while early spontaneous movement rates at 28–29 hpf were decreased 46% at 10 μg L −1 CBZ. 41 In flat-headed mayflies Stenonema spp (Heptageniidae), running was increased from 3 to 19% in individuals exposed 9 d to 2 μg L −1 CBZ, 59 possibly resulting in a decrease in predator avoidance behavior. In D. magna , exposure to 118 mg L −1 CBZ 24 h and 48 h immobilized 60% and 80% of individuals, respectively.…”