Effect of Heavy Metals on the Survival and Population Growth Rates of Marine Rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis

Effect of heavy metals(Cd, Cu, Zn) on the survival and population growth rates(PGR) of marine rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis were examined. B. plicatilis were exposed to Cd, Cu and Zn for 24 h to determine their survival and 72 h to determine their PGR. Survival rates in the control groups were greater than 90%. They were decreased with increasing concentrations of Cd, Cu and Zn. Survival rates were reduced in a concentration-dependent manner. Significant reduction in survival rates after exposure to Cd, Cu and Zn at concentration greater than 40.00, 0.13 and $10.00mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. PGR in the control groups were greater than 0.50. They were decreased with increasing concentrations of heavy metals. PGR were reduced in a concentration-dependent manner. Significant reduction in PGR after exposure to Cd, Cu and Zn occurred at concentration greater than 12.5, 0.06 and $1.00mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. The order of heavy metal toxicity based on PGR was Cu>Zn>Cd, with $EC_{50}$ (50% Effective Concentration) values of 0.12, 6.15 and $21.41mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. The lowest-observed-effective-concentrations(LOEC) of PGR after exposure to Cd, Cu and Zn were 12.50, 0.06 and $1.00mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. The No-observed-effective-concentrations(NOEC) of PGR after exposure to Cd, Cu and Zn were 6.25, 0.03 and $0.01mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively, in marine ecosystems have toxic effects on PGR of B. plicatilis. These results suggest that the PGR of B. plicatilis are useful tool to assess the effect of heavy metals on primary consumers in marine natural ecosystems.

중금속(Cd, Cu, Zn) 농도구배에 따른 윤충류 Brachionus plicatilis의 생존 및 개체군 성장에 미치는 영향

중금속 Cd, Cu 및 Zn이 해산로티퍼(Brachionus plicatilis)의 생존율 및 개체군 성장률에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위하여 중금속 3종에 대한 독성평가를 수행하였다. 중금속에 24시간 노출하였을 때 Cd, Cu 및 Zn에 대한 생존율은 40.00, 0.13 및 $10.00mg\;L^{-1}$ 농도에서 급격한 감소가 시작되어 농도의존적으로 감소하였고, 중금속에 72시간 노출한 개체군 성장률도 Cd, Cu 및 Zn의 12.50, 0.06 및 $1.00mg\;L^{-1}$ 농도에서 급격한 감소가 시작되어, 중금속 3종에서 모두 농도의존적으로 감소하였다. Cd, Cu 및 Zn에 노출된 개체군 성장률의 $EC_{50}$ 값은 각각 21.41, 0.12 및 $6.15mg\;L^{-1}$이며, 독성의 세기는 Cu>Zn>Cd로 생존율과 개체군 성장률이 동일하였다. 또한 Cd, Cu 및 Zn에 대한 개체군 성장률의 LOEC는 각각 6.25, 0.03 및 $0.10mg\;L^{-1}$, NOEC는 각각 12.50, 0.06 및 $1.00mg\;L^{-1}$로 나타났다. 해양환경에서 개체군 성장률의 LOEC를 초과하는 농도가 B. plicatilis에게 독성영향을 미칠 수 있다고 판단되며, NOEC와 $EC_{50}$ 값은 혼합독성을 판단하기 위한 WET test와 해양생태계 내 생물에게 영향을 미치는 중금속 독성에 대한 가이드라인으로 활용될 수 있을 것이다.