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Animals
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Ecotoxicology in Aquatic Animals
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Ecotoxicology in Aquatic Animals

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Aquatic Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 10698

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Halina Falfushynska

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Guest Editor
Department of Marine Biology, Institute for Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, 18059 Rostock, Germany
Interests: oxidative stress; apoptosis; inflammation; metals; pesticides; pharmaceuticals; climate change; fish; mollusks
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Marko Prokic

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: antioxidant system; amphibians; carry-over effects; ecotoxicology; ectotherms; global climate change; hormesis; hybridization; oxidative damage; oxidative status; stress response
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The aquatic environment has become the ultimate destination for most of the anthropogenic pollutants that are released into the environment from various sources, such as industry, agriculture, urbanization, transport, tourism, and everyday life. Unfortunately, the pressures on aquatic ecosystems are on the rise, and they are facing a multitude of threats, such as environmental pollution and global warming. These threats pose a significant challenge to both science and society.

Human activities have induced significant changes in aquatic ecosystems, causing stress responses in aquatic organisms. To cope with environmental stress, aquatic organisms may undergo metabolic, structural, immunity, and physiological adjustments, which can carry some costs. These costs can shape life-history and have negative consequences on individual fitness, such as survival, health, longevity, and reproductive output, as well as population dynamics.

Despite these challenges, some aquatic animals have demonstrated remarkable resilience and the ability to survive in modified environments. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to gather knowledge about the costs, mechanisms, and biomarkers associated with an animal's capacity to cope with stressors. The Special Issue also seeks to explore how environmental changes affect aquatic animals on various levels and possible strategies for management and conservation.

In light of these objectives, we invite researchers from different fields of biology, including ecophysiology, environmental biochemistry, hydrobiology, zoology, toxicology, immunology, behavioral, and molecular biology, to submit their original research and review papers. We welcome submissions that address the influence of environmental and other stressors on aquatic animals, including both experimental sets and natural populations. Through this Special Issue, we hope to improve our understanding of aquatic ecosystems and develop effective management and conservation strategies to protect them.

Prof. Dr. Halina Falfushynska
Dr. Marko Prokic
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • metals
  • pesticides
  • personal care products and pharmaceuticals
  • nanoparticles
  • oxidative stress
  • biotransformation
  • water animals
  • environmental pollution
  • immune toxicity
  • cytotoxicity

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 3191 KiB  
Article
Exploration of Synergistic Regulation Mechanisms of Cerebral Ganglion and Muscle in Eriocheir sinensis Activated in Response to Alkalinity Stress
by Meiyao Wang, Jun Zhou, Jiachun Ge, Yongkai Tang and Gangchun Xu
Animals 2024, 14(16), 2374; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162374 - 16 Aug 2024
Viewed by 934
Abstract
The cerebral ganglion and muscle are important regulatory tissues in Eriocheir sinensis. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore their synergistic roles in this organism’s anti-stress response. In this study, proteomics, metabolomics, and combination analyses of the cerebral ganglion and muscle [...] Read more.
The cerebral ganglion and muscle are important regulatory tissues in Eriocheir sinensis. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore their synergistic roles in this organism’s anti-stress response. In this study, proteomics, metabolomics, and combination analyses of the cerebral ganglion and muscle of E. sinensis under alkalinity stress were performed. The cerebral ganglion and muscle played a significant synergistic regulatory role in alkalinity adaptation. The key regulatory pathways involved were amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, signal transduction, and the organismal system. They also played a modulatory role in the TCA cycle, nerve signal transduction, immune response, homeostasis maintenance, and ion channel function. In conclusion, the present study provides a theoretical reference for further research on the mechanisms regulating the growth and development of E. sinensis in saline–alkaline environments. In addition, it provides theoretical guidelines for promoting the vigorous development of the E. sinensis breeding industry in saline–alkaline environments in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicology in Aquatic Animals)
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16 pages, 2492 KiB  
Article
Miniaturizing Nanotoxicity Assays in Daphnids
by Dimitrios Kakavas, Konstantinos Panagiotidis, Keith D. Rochfort and Konstantinos Grintzalis
Animals 2024, 14(14), 2046; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14142046 - 12 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1049
Abstract
The rapid progress of the modern world has resulted in new materials and products created at an accelerating pace. As such, nanoparticles have widespread applications and often find their way into the aquatic ecosystem. In the case of freshwater ecosystems, one of the [...] Read more.
The rapid progress of the modern world has resulted in new materials and products created at an accelerating pace. As such, nanoparticles have widespread applications and often find their way into the aquatic ecosystem. In the case of freshwater ecosystems, one of the commonly used bioindicators species used for pollution assessment is Daphnid magna. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and other organizations such as the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have set guidelines for acute toxicity testing in daphnids that are severely lacking in terms of information on the characteristics of the exposure vessel when studying the adverse effects of nanoparticles (NPs). Understanding the toxicity mechanisms of nanomaterials is imperative given the scarcity of information on their adverse effects. Furthermore, miniaturization of nanotoxicity assays can reduce the number of daphnids used, as well as the cost and nanomaterial waste, and provide results even at the individual animal level with enhanced reproducibility of testing. In this study, the impact of the exposure vessel on the observed physiological changes of daphnids was investigated for a silver nano ink. Exposures in eleven commercially available vessels; nine made of plastic and two made of glass were compared for 24 h. The effect of surface to volume ratio of the exposure vessel and the animal number or “crowding” during exposure was investigated in the context of miniaturizing biomarker assays as alternatives to traditional experimental setups in Daphnid magna. Toxicity curves showed differences depending on the vessel used, while a novel feeding rate assay and the activity of key enzymes were assessed as physiology endpoints. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicology in Aquatic Animals)
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18 pages, 1708 KiB  
Article
Effects on Biochemical Parameters and Animal Welfare of Dusky Grouper (Epinephelus marginatus, Lowe 1834) by Feeding CTX Toxic Flesh
by Yefermin Darias-Dágfeel, Andres Sanchez-Henao, Daniel Padilla, María Virginia Martín, María José Ramos-Sosa, Paula Poquet, Michelle Barreto, Freddy Silva Sergent, Salvador Jerez and Fernando Real
Animals 2024, 14(12), 1757; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14121757 - 11 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1374
Abstract
Ciguatera is a foodborne disease caused by ciguatoxins (CTXs), produced by dinoflagellates (genera Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa), which bioaccumulate in fish through the food web, causing poisoning in humans. Currently, the physiological mechanisms of the species with the highest amount of toxins in [...] Read more.
Ciguatera is a foodborne disease caused by ciguatoxins (CTXs), produced by dinoflagellates (genera Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa), which bioaccumulate in fish through the food web, causing poisoning in humans. Currently, the physiological mechanisms of the species with the highest amount of toxins in their adult stage of life that are capable of causing these poisonings are poorly understood. Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) is a relevant fishing species and is part of the CTX food chain in the Canary Islands. This study developed an experimental model of dietary exposure featuring adult dusky groupers with two diets of tissue naturally contaminated with CTXs (amberjack and moray eel flesh) with two different potential toxicities; both groups were studied at different stages of exposure (4, 6, 10, 12, and 18 weeks). The results showed that this species did not show changes in its behavior due to the provided feeding, but the changes were recorded in biochemical parameters (mainly lipid and hepatic metabolism) that may respond to liver damage and alterations in the homeostasis of the fish; more research is needed to understand histopathological and cytotoxic changes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicology in Aquatic Animals)
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20 pages, 5082 KiB  
Article
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of the Hepatopancreas from Macrobrachium rosenbergii Exposed to the Heavy Metal Copper
by Jiayuan Zhang, Zhiming Bao, Jieyu Guo, Xianbin Su, Yongfeng Zou and Hui Guo
Animals 2024, 14(7), 1117; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14071117 - 5 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2187
Abstract
The contamination of aquatic ecosystems by the heavy metal copper (Cu) is an important environmental issue and poses significant risks to the physiological functions of aquatic organisms. Macrobrachium rosenbergii is one of the most important freshwater-cultured prawns in the world. The hepatopancreas of [...] Read more.
The contamination of aquatic ecosystems by the heavy metal copper (Cu) is an important environmental issue and poses significant risks to the physiological functions of aquatic organisms. Macrobrachium rosenbergii is one of the most important freshwater-cultured prawns in the world. The hepatopancreas of crustaceans is a key organ for immune defense, heavy metal accumulation, and detoxification, playing a pivotal role in toxicological research. However, research on the molecular response of the hepatopancreas in M. rosenbergii to Cu exposure is still lacking. In this study, the transcriptomic response in the hepatopancreas of M. rosenbergii was studied after Cu exposure for 3 and 48 h. Compared with the control group, 11,164 (7288 up-regulated and 3876 down-regulated genes) and 10,937 (6630 up-regulated and 4307 down-regulated genes) differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified after 3 and 48 h exposure, respectively. Most of these DEGs were up-regulated, implying that gene expressions were largely induced by Cu. Functional enrichment analysis of these DEGs revealed that immunity, copper homeostasis, detoxification, DNA damage repair, and apoptosis were differentially regulated by Cu. Seven genes involved in immunity, detoxification, and metabolism were selected for validation by qRT-PCR, and the results confirmed the reliability of RNA-Seq. All these findings suggest that M. rosenbergii attempts to resist the toxicity of Cu by up-regulating the expression of genes related to immunity, metabolism, and detoxification. However, with the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the antioxidant enzyme system was destroyed. As a result, DNA damage repair and the cellular stress response were inhibited, thereby exacerbating cell damage. In order to maintain the normal function of the hepatopancreas, M. rosenbergii removes damaged cells by activating the apoptosis mechanism. Our study not only facilitates an understanding of the molecular response mechanisms of M. rosenbergii underlying Cu toxicity effects but also helps us to identify potential biomarkers associated with the stress response in other crustaceans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicology in Aquatic Animals)
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13 pages, 2010 KiB  
Article
Ecotoxicological Effects of Potassium Dichromate on the Tadpole Shrimp Triops longicaudatus
by André Carido Pereira, Aurélia Saraiva, Luís Oliva-Teles, Laura Guimarães and António Paulo Carvalho
Animals 2024, 14(3), 358; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14030358 - 23 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2098
Abstract
The tadpole shrimp Triops longicaudatus is a freshwater crustacean with fast embryonic and larval development, short life cycle, and high fecundity. They are very active swimmers of a reasonable size, easy to spot and record. Such characteristics make it a promising candidate as [...] Read more.
The tadpole shrimp Triops longicaudatus is a freshwater crustacean with fast embryonic and larval development, short life cycle, and high fecundity. They are very active swimmers of a reasonable size, easy to spot and record. Such characteristics make it a promising candidate as an experimental model in ecotoxicology to evaluate the effects of aquatic pollutants, particularly using its locomotor behavior as an endpoint. To evaluate the sensitivity of T. longicaudatus and develop endpoints of interest, we conducted exposure experiments with lethal and sub-lethal concentrations of potassium dichromate, a compound known for its ecotoxicological importance and as a hexavalent chromium source. The endpoints evaluated were mortality, growth, sexual maturation, reproductive output, cholinesterase activity and locomotor/swimming behavior. The 96 h median lethal concentration was found to be 65 µg/L. Furthermore, exposure to potassium dichromate at higher concentrations had a significant negative impact on the growth rate of T. longicaudatus in terms of both body mass and length. The time for maturation was also delayed at higher concentrations. In addition, locomotor behavior allowed for the discrimination of all tested chromium concentrations and the control group and from each other, proving to be the most sensitive endpoint. Overall, the data support the potential of T. longicaudatus as a model for ecotoxicity testing, using apical endpoints with impact at the population level; in particular, results suggest that behavior assessments in this species might be useful for detecting hazardous compounds in environmental monitoring of freshwater ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicology in Aquatic Animals)
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21 pages, 5574 KiB  
Article
Transcriptome Analysis and Identification of Cadmium-Induced Oxidative Stress Response Genes in Different Meretrix meretrix Developmental Stages
by Yiyuan Xu, Chenghui Wu, Jianyu Jin, Wenhan Tang, Yuting Chen, Alan Kueichieh Chang and Xueping Ying
Animals 2024, 14(2), 352; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14020352 - 22 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1832
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is one of the major pollutants in the aquatic environment, and it can easily accumulate in aquatic animals and result in toxic effects by changing the metabolism of the body, causing a serious impact on the immune system, reproductive system, and [...] Read more.
Cadmium (Cd) is one of the major pollutants in the aquatic environment, and it can easily accumulate in aquatic animals and result in toxic effects by changing the metabolism of the body, causing a serious impact on the immune system, reproductive system, and the development of offspring. The clam Meretrix meretrix is one of the commercially important species that is cultivated in large-scale aquaculture in China. To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of Cd2+ in the developmental processes, fertilized eggs and larvae of M. meretrix at different developmental stages were exposed to Cd2+ (27.2 mg L−1 in natural seawater) or just natural seawater without Cd2+ (control), and high-throughput transcriptome sequencing and immunohistochemistry techniques were used to analyze the toxic effects of Cd on larvae at different early developmental stages. The results revealed 31,914 genes were differentially expressed in the different stages of M. meretrix development upon treatment with Cd2+. Ten of these genes were differentially expressed in all stages of development examined, but they comprised only six unigenes (CCO, Ndh, HPX, A2M, STF, and pro-C3), all of which were related to the oxidative stress response. Under Cd exposure, the expression levels of CCO and Ndh were significantly upregulated in D-shaped and pediveliger larvae, while pro-C3 expression was significantly upregulated in the fertilized egg, D-shaped larva, and pediveliger. Moreover, HPX, A2M, and STF expression levels in the fertilized egg and pediveliger larvae were also significantly upregulated. In contrast, CCO, Ndh, HPX, A2M, STF, and pro-C3 expression levels in the postlarva were all downregulated under Cd exposure. Besides the genes with changes in expression identified by the transcriptome, the expression of two other oxidative stress-related genes (MT and Nfr2) was also found to change significantly in the different developmental stages of M. meretrix upon Cd exposure, confirming their roles in combating oxidative stress. Overall, the findings of this study indicated that Cd would interfere with cellular respiration, ion transport, and immune response through inducing oxidative stress, and changes in the expression of oxidative stress-related genes might be an important step for M. meretrix to deal with the adverse effects of Cd at different stages of its development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotoxicology in Aquatic Animals)
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