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Schramm, K.-W. ; Jaser, W. ; Welzl, G. ; Pfister, G. ; Wöhler-Moorhoff, G.F. ; Hense, B.A.

Impact of 17alpha-ethinylestradiol on the plankton in freshwater microcosms-I: Response of zooplankton and abiotic variables.

Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 69, 437-452 (2008)
Open Access Green as soon as Postprint is submitted to ZB.
We investigated effects of 17alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE) in vertebrate free 230L still water microcosms. Zooplankton composition and physico-chemical variables were observed during 4 weeks of pre-application, 6 weeks of dosing via controlled release, and a 12 weeks post-treatment period. In the treated microcosms, time-weighted averages of EE concentration ranged between 7 and 220ng/L during the dosing period, with concentration maxima up to 724ng/L. EE exposure resulted in a decrease of species numbers and diversity (Shannon-Wiener, Simpson). Abundances of cladocerans, copepods, and, less unambiguously, rotifers declined. Strongest affected groups were the offspring of cladocerans and copepods and, on species level, the cladoceran species Daphnia longispina and Chydorus sphaericus as well as the rotifer species Keratella quadrata and Polyarthra sp. EE apparently affected the phosphate cycle as indicated by increased phosphate concentrations in the water. During post-treatment period, the treated microcosms recovered, but especially the highest treated microcosms did not fully re-approximate to the controls. Whereas EE affected cladocerans and copepods directly, shifts of rotifers may (partly) be caused indirectly, e.g. by competition with crustaceae. Although not providing an absolute proof, the traits of direct and indirect effects on different taxonomic groups and larval stages as well as the time course of the effects indicate that effects primarily resulted from endocrine activity of EE.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Corresponding Author
Keywords 17?-Ethinylestradiol; Zooplankton; Endocrine disruption; Phosphate; Aquatic microcosms
ISSN (print) / ISBN 0147-6513
e-ISSN 0147-6513
Journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Quellenangaben Volume: 69, Issue: 3, Pages: 437-452 Article Number: , Supplement: ,
Publisher Elsevier
Non-patent literature Publications
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Institute of Biomathematics and Biometry (IBB)
Institute of Ecological Chemistry (IOEC)
Institute of Developmental Genetics (IDG)