Toxic effects of a cyanobacterial strain on Chironomus riparius larvae in a multistress environment

Nikola Stanković; Boris Jovanović; Ivana Kostić Kokić; Milica Stojković Piperac; Jelica Simeunović; Dimitar Jakimov; Ivica Dimkić; Djuradj Milošević

doi:10.1016/j.aquatox.2022.106321

Toxic effects of a cyanobacterial strain on Chironomus riparius larvae in a multistress environment

Aquat Toxicol. 2022 Dec:253:106321. doi: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2022.106321. Epub 2022 Oct 2.

Authors

Nikola Stanković¹, Boris Jovanović², Ivana Kostić Kokić³, Milica Stojković Piperac⁴, Jelica Simeunović⁵, Dimitar Jakimov⁶, Ivica Dimkić⁷, Djuradj Milošević⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, Višegradska 33, 18000 Niš, Serbia. Electronic address: nikola.stankovic@pmf.edu.rs.
² Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
³ Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, Višegradska 33, 18000 Niš, Serbia.
⁴ Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, Višegradska 33, 18000 Niš, Serbia.
⁵ Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Novi Sad, Dr Zorana Đinđića 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
⁶ Oncology Institute of Vojvodina, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Put Dr Goldmana 4, 21204 Sremska Kamenica, Serbia.
⁷ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Studentski Trg 16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia.

PMID: 36308821
DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2022.106321

Abstract

Cyanobacteria and their toxic metabolites present a global threat to water habitats, but their impact on aquatic organisms in a multistress environment has been poorly investigated. Here we present the results of a survey on the effects of the toxic cyanobacterial strain Trichormus variabilis (heterotypic synonym Anabaena variabilis), and its toxic metabolite, cyanotoxin microcystin-LR, on Chironomus riparius larvae in a multistress environment. An environmentally relevant concentration of microcystin-LR (0.01 mg/L) caused an increase in larvae mortality in an acute toxicity test, which became greater in the presence of environmental stressors (NO₃^-, NH4⁺, PO₄^3- and Cd²⁺), pointing to an additive effect of these agents. Chronic exposure of C. riparius larvae to the microcystin-LR producing strain of T. variabilis in a multistress environment led to a reduction in the larval mass and hemoglobin concentration, and it induced DNA damage in larval somatic cells. The results revealed the additive effect of microcystin-LR in combination with all three tested stressors (NO₃^-, NH4⁺, PO₄^3-), and the deleterious effect of chronic exposure of C. riparius larvae to the microcystin-LR producing T. variabilis in a multistress environment. However, the present study further emphasizes the importance of investigating interactions between stressors and cyanotoxins, and their effect on aquatic organisms.

Keywords: Chironomus; Cyanotoxin; Eutrophication; Microcystin; Multistress; Trichormus variabilis.

MeSH terms

Animals
Chironomidae*
Cyanobacteria*
Larva
Microcystins / toxicity
Toxicity Tests, Acute
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / toxicity

Substances

Water Pollutants, Chemical
Microcystins