Lic.-avh. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 2 uppsatser.

The supply of coral reef fish larvae from the open ocean to reefs is vital for the persistence of local fish populations. Whether larvae are dispersed over hundreds of km or only few km depends on biophysical interactions between larvae and their environment. Relationships between environmental variables, larval swimming behavior, and larval transport were examined for reef fish larvae in the Florida Straits. In a series of research cruises, the upper 100 m of the water column was sampled with plankton nets fishing at four different depths. Variability in the vertical distributions of most larvae was not consistently related to measured environmental variables. Relative densities of larvae were predictably related to sampling depth in five taxa. In seven taxa, more developed larvae were distributed significantly deeper than less developed larvae, revealing ontogenic vertical migrations. In three taxa, vertical distributions varied significantly between day and night, revealing diel migrations. Since the Florida Current was strongest near the surface, observed vertical distributions and migrations resulted in reduced larval transport relative to surface currents. To identify cues involved in regulating vertical distributions, behavioral experiments were conducted with larvae from four reef fish families. All four groups showed significant responses to pressure cues, swimming up in response to high pressure and down in response to low pressure. In two families there was a significant correlation between capture depth and experimental pressure preference, suggesting that larvae use similar behavior to regulate depth in situ. To study horizontal swimming behavior, late-stage larvae of one species were caught in light-traps and observed by SCUBA divers ~1 km offshore of the Florida Keys barrier reef. All larvae swam remarkably straight, but their swimming directions were distributed randomly. A simulation model was used to generate swimming trajectories of longer duration than could be observed directly. Observed and simulated trajectories indicated that horizontal swimming by larvae with or without an external reference frame was important at spatial scales of several km. Overall, some larvae exercised a strong influence on transport, either by vertical or horizontal swimming. Behaviors varied between species and families, highlighting the need for more species-specific data.

A presente revisão teve por objetivo indicar em literatura o uso do comportamento de locomoção de invertebrados aquáticos com indicador de toxicidade. Desde a década de 1960 é sabido que contaminantes tem efeitos deletérios em níveis populacionais e ecossistêmicos. A ecotoxicologia comportamental é um dos ramos da ecotoxicologia clássica que tem como objetivo interpretar os efeitos comportamentais dos contaminantes nos organismos. Esta abordagem tem ganhado espaço em função da continua busca de pesquisadores por enpoints que expressem efeitos populacionais relevantes. Além da importância econômica, os crustáceos aquáticos têm importância em cadeias alimentares e na aquicultura. Microcrustáceos são tidos pela ecotoxicologia como espécies-modelo, também utilizados para observações comportamentais em razão da sua participação em processos ecossistêmicos como as alças microbianas, ocupando posições intermediárias na cadeia trófica e sustentando níveis tróficos mais elevados. A locomoção de microcrustáceos aquáticos é o comportamento fundamental que garante a sobrevivência destes organismos no ambiente. Diversos processos vitais estão estritamente ligados à locomoção (e.g.: reprodução e alimentação). Sabe-se que compostos tóxicos tem a capacidade de alterar funções fisiológicas dos organismos, entre elas a locomoção. Atualmente, a quantificação do comportamento (endpoints comportamentais) tem sido utilizada para indicar mudanças induzidas por compostos orgânicos ou inorgânicos, favorecendo um panorama mais amplo sobre os efeitos adversos da contaminação aquática. / The present review aimed to indicate in literature the use of aquatic invertebrate swimming behavior as model to access contaminants toxicity. Since the 1960s it has been known that toxicants have deleterious effects at population and ecosystem levels. Behavioral ecotoxicology is one of the approaches of classical ecotoxicology that aims to interpret the behavioral effects of toxicants on organisms. This approach has gained space due to the continuous researchers\' investigation about enpoints that allow to find the ecological relevance. Besides economic importance, aquatic crustaceans are important in food chains and aquaculture. Microcrustaceans are considered by ecotoxicology as model species, also used for behavioral observations because of their participation in ecosystem processes such as the microbial loops, occupying intermediate positions in the trophic chain and sustaining higher trophic levels. The locomotion of aquatic microcrustaceans is the fundamental behavior that guarantees the survival of these organisms in the environment. Several vital processes are strictly linked to locomotion (e.g.: reproduction and feeding). It is known that toxic compounds can alter the physiological functions of organisms, including locomotion. Currently, behavioral quantification (behavioral endpoints) has been used to indicate changes induced by organic or inorganic toxic compounds, favoring a broader picture of the adverse effects of aquatic contamination.

Les paramètres comportementaux sont de plus en plus considérés comme étant des indicateurs sensibles et précoces de toxicité chez les organismes aquatiques. Cependant, l’utilisation du comportement natatoire comme critère de toxicité pour l’analyse de risque environnemental ou pour le contrôle de la qualité de l’eau reste pour l’heure encore limitée. En effet, il est actuellement difficile de quantifier la sensibilité des paramètres comportementaux et d’établir un lien entre les seuils d’effets comportementaux et les effets aigus et subaigus classiquement mesurés dans les tests en écotoxicologie. Dans le but d’améliorer notre compréhension des effets comportementaux des polluants sur Daphnia magna, nous avons développé un nouveau système de mesure du comportement multi-cuves baptisé «Multi-DaphTrack ». Douze substances toxiques, couvrant une large gamme de modes d’action différents ont été testées dans ce système. Un test standard d’immobilisation ainsi que des analyses de comportement dans le toximètre DaphToxI®, ont également été effectués pour chaque substance afin de comparer les seuilsd’effets comportementaux avec les paramètres classiques d’immobilisation. Les résultats des expositions aux différentes substances ont démontré que notre nouveau système d’exposition multi-cuves permet de détecter des effets comportementaux (i.e.,augmentation de la vitesse de nage) significatifs et précoces pour l’ensemble des substances testées et ce, à des concentrations proches de la CE10(48 h) du test aigu d’immobilisation dès la première heure d’exposition. Des profils comportementaux différents ont été observés selon les substances testées (i.e., intensité, temps de latence et durée de l’effet) mais ceux-ci ne sont pas spécifiques d’un mode d’action particulier. Les résultats obtenus avec le toximètre DaphToxI®ont révélé des profils d’effet similaires (i.e.,augmentation de la vitesse de nage) bien que ce système soit globalement moins sensible par rapport au système «Multi-DaphTrack». Pour conclure, notre nouveau système d’exposition multi-cuves «Multi-DaphTrack» est un outil plus sensible et précoce que letest standard d’immobilisation pour l’évaluation de la toxicité de substances chimiques. L’utilisation du système «Multi-DaphTrack» pourrait donc être envisagée, après quelques améliorations et validation supplémentaires, pour l’évaluation de la qualité des masses d’eauet des effluents. / Swimming behavior is increasingly reported as a sensitive and early indicator of toxicant stress in aquatic organisms. However, it remains unclear how to quantify the sensitivity of swimming behavioral endpoints and how to compare these effect thresholds with standard ecotoxicological endpoints used in risk assessment. To date, the systematic assessment of the sensitivity of swimming behavioral endpoints in daphnia is limited because of the restrained test capacity of existing behavioral analysis systems. Hence, we developed a new behavioral analysis multi-cellsystemnamed “Multi-DaphTrack” with a high throughput testing capacity in order to enhance our understanding of swimming behavioral effects in Daphnia magnaunder chemical exposure. Twelve compounds covering different modes oftoxic action were selected and tested in this new system andin a single-cell commercialized biomonitor (DaphToxI®) and with the acute standard test.Our new multi-cellexposure system detectedsignificant and early swimming behavioral effects (i.e.,increase of the average speed) for most of the tested compounds and this, from the first hour of exposure at concentrations near the EC10(48h). Contrastedbehavioral profiles were observed for average speed (i.e., intensity, time of effect onset, effect duration), but no distinct behavioral profiles could be drawn from the chemical mode of action. Despite less sensitive,the DaphToxI®gave similar trends (i.e.,rapid peak increase) compared to our “Multi-DaphTrack” system. To conclude, behavior analysis using our “Multi-DaphTrack”systemcould be used as an alternative or complement to the current acute standard test for toxicity assessment of chemicals. With some additional improvements and validations, it also could be used forquality assessment of waterbodiesand sewages.

O comportamento natatório de larvas de peixes na fase da primeira alimentação de Rachycentron canadum e Epinephelus marginatus foi descrito usando imagens de câmeras de alta frequência (60 a 2000 quadros por segundo) pelas técnicas de imageamento: microscopia de campo claro, sistema de filtros pareados e holografia. Oito métricas comportamentais foram registradas na presença de náuplios de copépodes; rotíferos Brachionus sp. e; sem alimento: natação rotineira (1 a 2,9 vezes o comprimento do corpo por segundo, CP s-¹); natação explosiva (3 a 40 CP s-¹); recuo; distâncias percorridas; batimentos do complexo caudal na natação e manutenção da posição (40 b s-¹); contrações rápidas do corpo em formato de C (de 0,16 a 0,40 s) e S (0,009 a 0,17 s); repouso; e comportamento alimentar (visualização das presas e tentativa de captura). As larvas alteraram a velocidade de natação na presença de presas e aumentaram em função da idade. Os maiores valores alcançados do número de Reynolds foram na presença de presas, para natação rotineira foi 200. As contrações da musculatura e mudanças na velocidade de natação indicam relação com aspectos ecológicos dos organismos, como busca por alimento e interações intra e interespecíficas. / The swimming behavior of first feeding fish larvae Rachycentron canadum and Epinephelus marginatus was described using images acquired with high-speed cameras (60 to 2000 frames per second) by the imaging techniques: bright field microscopy, matched filters system and holography. Eight behavioral metrics were recorded in the presence of copepod nauplii; rotifer Brachionus sp.; and unfed: routine swimming (1 to 2.9 body lengths per second, BL s-¹); burst swimming (3 to 40 BL s-¹); backward swimming; distance traveled; caudal beat frequency of swimming and maintaining of the position (about 40 b s-¹); fast C-turns (0.16 to 0.40 s) and S-turns (0.009 to 0.17 s); rest; and feeding behavior (observation of prey and attempts to capture). The larvae altered their swimming velocity in the presence of prey and incresead according to age. The highest values of the Reynolds number were reached in the presence of prey, to routine swimming was < 20, and to bust swimming > 200. Muscles contractions and changes in the swimming showed a relation to ecological aspects of organisms, like food searching and intra and interspecific interactions.

O comportamento natatório de larvas de peixes na fase da primeira alimentação de Rachycentron canadum e Epinephelus marginatus foi descrito usando imagens de câmeras de alta frequência (60 a 2000 quadros por segundo) pelas técnicas de imageamento: microscopia de campo claro, sistema de filtros pareados e holografia. Oito métricas comportamentais foram registradas na presença de náuplios de copépodes; rotíferos Brachionus sp. e; sem alimento: natação rotineira (1 a 2,9 vezes o comprimento do corpo por segundo, CP s-¹); natação explosiva (3 a 40 CP s-¹); recuo; distâncias percorridas; batimentos do complexo caudal na natação e manutenção da posição (40 b s-¹); contrações rápidas do corpo em formato de C (de 0,16 a 0,40 s) e S (0,009 a 0,17 s); repouso; e comportamento alimentar (visualização das presas e tentativa de captura). As larvas alteraram a velocidade de natação na presença de presas e aumentaram em função da idade. Os maiores valores alcançados do número de Reynolds foram na presença de presas, para natação rotineira foi 200. As contrações da musculatura e mudanças na velocidade de natação indicam relação com aspectos ecológicos dos organismos, como busca por alimento e interações intra e interespecíficas. / The swimming behavior of first feeding fish larvae Rachycentron canadum and Epinephelus marginatus was described using images acquired with high-speed cameras (60 to 2000 frames per second) by the imaging techniques: bright field microscopy, matched filters system and holography. Eight behavioral metrics were recorded in the presence of copepod nauplii; rotifer Brachionus sp.; and unfed: routine swimming (1 to 2.9 body lengths per second, BL s-¹); burst swimming (3 to 40 BL s-¹); backward swimming; distance traveled; caudal beat frequency of swimming and maintaining of the position (about 40 b s-¹); fast C-turns (0.16 to 0.40 s) and S-turns (0.009 to 0.17 s); rest; and feeding behavior (observation of prey and attempts to capture). The larvae altered their swimming velocity in the presence of prey and incresead according to age. The highest values of the Reynolds number were reached in the presence of prey, to routine swimming was < 20, and to bust swimming > 200. Muscles contractions and changes in the swimming showed a relation to ecological aspects of organisms, like food searching and intra and interspecific interactions.

No description available.