Ecological modelling and toxicity data coupled to assess population recovery of marine amphipod Gammarus locusta: Application to disturbance by chronic exposure to aniline

Authored by los Santos Carmen B de, Teresa Neuparth, Tiago Torres, Irene Martins, Isabel Cunha, Dave Sheahan, Tom McGowan, Miguel M Santos

Date Published: 2015

DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2015.03.019

Sponsors: European Union National Strategic Reference Framework Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation North Portugal Regional Operational Programme

Platforms: R

Model Documentation: ODD Flow charts Ontologies

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

A population agent-based model of marine amphipod Gammarus locusta was designed and implemented as a basis for ecological risk assessment of chemical pollutants impairing life-history traits at the individual level. We further used the model to assess the toxic effects of aniline (a priority hazardous and noxious substance, HNS) on amphipod populations using empirically-built dose-response functions derived from a chronic bioassay that we previously performed with this species. We observed a significant toxicant-induced mortality and adverse effects in reproductive performance (reduction of newborn production) in G. locusta at the individual level. Coupling the population model with the toxicological data from the chronic bioassay allowed the projection of the ecological costs associated with exposure to aniline that might occur in wild populations. Model simulations with different scenarios indicated that even low level prolonged exposure to the HNS aniline can have significant long-term impacts on G. locusta population abundance, until the impacted population returns to undisturbed levels. This approach may be a useful complement in ecotoxicological studies of chemical pollution to transfer individual-collected data to ecological-relevant levels. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tags

Dynamics Noxious substances hns Risk-assessment Multilevel assessment Estuarine sediments Daphnia-magna Life-history End-points Reproduction Crustacea