Effects of deltamethrin (pyrethroid insecticide) on growth, reproduction, embryonic development and sex differentiation in two strains of Daphnia magna (Crustacea, Cladocera)

Acute and different chronic ecotoxic effects of deltamethrin have been investigated on two strains (coming from two different laboratories) of Daphnia magna. The effective concentrations immobilizing 50% of daphnids (EC50s) after 24h and 48h were 9.40 and 0.32μgL-1, 8.86 and 0.63μgL-1 for first strain (strain 1) and second strain (strain 2), respectively. Thus, there was an increase of deltamethrin ecotoxicity with time of exposure as confirmed by chronic studies. After 21days of exposure to deltamethrin, daphnids have showed significant effects on survival at deltamethrin concentrations of 0.16μgL-1 and 0.31μgL-1 for strains 1 and 2, respectively. Eleven other endpoints were examined: body length, population growth rate and various reproductive parameters (days to first brood, number of broods, number of cumulative molts and number of neonates), embryotoxicity and appearance of males. IC10 values related to the number of juveniles per live adult were 11 and 46ngL-1 for strains 1 and 2, respectively. Furthermore, an increase in embryo deformities was observed at the highest concentrations tested for both strains. Following deltamethrin exposure, undeveloped second antennae, curved or unextended shell spines, and curved post abdomen spines were observed in live neonates. The production of male juveniles was only registered with strain 1 at 0.16μgL-1. Results suggest that deltamethrin could act as an endocrine disruptor in D. magna as it interferes with sex determination and development abnormality but there is a difference in sensitivity between the two tested strains. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.