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Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1002/etc.5620200931
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Title (Primary) Combined effects of UV-B radiation and food shortage on the sensitivity of the Antarctic amphipod Paramoera walkeri to copper
Author Liess, M.; Champeau, O.; Riddle, M.J.; Schulz, R.; Duquesne, S.
Source Titel Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Year 2001
Department OEKOTOX
Volume 20
Issue 9
Page From 2088
Page To 2092
Language englisch
Abstract

Investigations on the combined effects of ultraviolet (UV)-B radiation and anthropogenic toxicants have focused primarily on the chemical interactions between UV-B and organic compounds. Only a few studies have examined whether exposure to UV-B changes sensitivity to toxicants. This question is addressed in a laboratory study using the common shoreline Antarctic amphipod Paramoera walkeri and exposure to environmentally realistic levels of copper, UV-B radiation, and food shortage. Exposure to copper for 21 d in the absence of any additional stressors (food present, no UV-B) showed a lowest observable effective concentration (LOEC) of greater than 100 mug Cu/L. Exposure to copper and UV-B in combination, with no shortage of food, resulted in a LOEC of 45 mug Cu/L. When exposed to copper and UV-B, with shortage of food, a LOEC of 3 mug Cu/L was recorded. Hence, the combination of environmental stress from exposure to UV-B radiation and shortage of food increases the sensitivity of P. walkeri to copper more than 30-fold. Increased metabolic energy requirements for defense mechanisms in response to toxicants and UVB are discussed as possible explanations. It is concluded that consideration of environmental stressors in combination with toxicants increases the accuracy of ecological risk assessments of toxicants and should be part of the process for developing guidelines for ecologically acceptable concentrations of contaminants in the environment.

Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=6559
Liess, M., Champeau, O., Riddle, M.J., Schulz, R., Duquesne, S. (2001):
Combined effects of UV-B radiation and food shortage on the sensitivity of the Antarctic amphipod Paramoera walkeri to copper
Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 20 (9), 2088 - 2092 10.1002/etc.5620200931