Meeting Abstract
P3.31 Sunday, Jan. 6 Vertical transfer and growth effects of zebrafish consuming Rotifera exposed to copper-loaded carbonaceous particulates KOHLENBERG, K.L.*; STANISHEVSKY, A.V.; WATTS, S.A.; University of Alabama at Birmingham; UAB; UAB katekohl@uab.edu
Nano-sized particles have gained attention due to their highly reactive chemical and physical properties and applications to many industrial processes. Little is known about the potential environmental impacts of these nano-sized particulates if released into aquatic environments. Previous studies have evaluated nano-metals, such as copper, lead, and titanium oxides, many of which are toxic. Highly reactive carbonaceous particulates are also widely used in industry, and little is known about the potential environmental impacts of these particulates or related conjugates. These carbonaceous particles are likely to undergo secondary reactions with metals or other compounds and pose a new threat to aquatic ecosystems. There is potential for these carbonaceous particulates to interrupt food web dynamics. Previously, we determined that carbonaceous compounds are consumed by ciliated zooplankton and larvae. In this study we investigated the impacts of copper-loaded carbonaceous particulates (CuLCP) at two different tropic levels (primary and secondary consumers) and evaluated their short-term effects in model organisms. CuLCP were synthesized in a chemical reduction of copper sulfate with sodium borohydride and dextrose. The rotifer Brachionus plicatilus were exposed to varying concentrations of CuLCP. These particulates accumulated in the gut within minutes and a 24-hour LC50 was determined at 0.01mg/mL. To investigate vertical transfer, newly-hatched zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae (5 dpf) were fed three times daily to satiation a diet of rotifers exposed previously to CuLCP (0.01mg/mL) for one hour. Larval zebrafish fed treated rotifers showed significant growth limitation after 72 hours. These data indicate that carbonaceous particulates can be consumed by zooplankton (with direct effects) and transferred through the food web to higher order consumers.
