Evaluation of Sub-lethal Toxicity of Cyanobacteria on the Swimming Activity of Aquatic Organisms by Image Analysis

Authors

  • Aloysio da S. Ferrão-Filho Laboratório de Avaliação e Promoção da Saúde Ambiental, Departamento de Biologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
  • R. Cunha Laboratório de Avaliação e Promoção da Saúde Ambiental, Departamento de Biologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
  • V. F. Magalhães Laboratório de Ecofisiologia e Toxicologia de Cianobactérias, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho (CCS), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
  • M. C. S. Soares Laboratório de Ficologia, Departamento de Botânica, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
  • D. F. Baptista Laboratório de Avaliação e Promoção da Saúde Ambiental, Departamento de Biologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5132/jbse.2007.02.001

Keywords:

Real-Time Biomoinitoring, toxic cyanobacteria, sub-lethal toxicity, saxitoxins, aquatic organisms

Abstract

This study evaluated the sub-lethal toxicity of cyanobacteria, especially Cylindrospermosis raciborskii, on Daphnia pulex (water-flea) and Danio rerio (fish), through automated image processing, with the aim to develop a Real-Time Biomonitoring System (RTBS) for detection of toxic cyanobacteria in water supplies. A system composed of a video camera coupled to an image analyzer (Videomex-V®) and to a computer was used to evaluate the swimming activities of D. rerio and D. pulex. The parameters ‘mean distance performed’ and ‘mean velocity’ were used as endpoints to evaluate the effect of samples of cyanobacteria cultures or to raw water from the eutrophic Funil Reservoir. Results showed that both cyanobacteria cultures and water samples from the reservoir altered the swimming activities of D. rerio, elevating the values of mean distance performed and mean velocity. For D. pulex, the cyanobacteria cells caused the opposite effect, decreasing the swimming activity parameters, which can be related to the mechanism of action of saxitoxins. It was concluded that this system can be efficiently used in the detection of toxic blooms of saxitoxin producing cyanobacteria in water supplies.

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Published

10-07-2007

How to Cite

Ferrão-Filho, A. da S., Cunha, R., Magalhães, V. F., Soares, M. C. S., & Baptista, D. F. (2007). Evaluation of Sub-lethal Toxicity of Cyanobacteria on the Swimming Activity of Aquatic Organisms by Image Analysis. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Contamination, 2(2), 93–100. https://doi.org/10.5132/jbse.2007.02.001

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2007)

Section

Original Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2007 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Contamination

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